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What Is Psychological Egoism?
Psychological egoism
It is the theory that all our actions are motivated by self-interest.
The view is endorsed by philosophers such as Tomas Hobbes and Friedrich Nietzsche.
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SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
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Key Ideas
Creating Psychological Distance
Many of us have been in a situation where our emotions prevent us from responding appropriately and seeing the big picture. For example, in cases where we feel extreme anger, stress, anxiety, and s...
Types of Psychological Distancing
- Time: We think differently about events that are far in the future, compared to activities in the near future. For events in the distant future, we use abstract terms that lack concrete action.
- Space: We use abstract terms to describe events within a physically-near space than events that happen in a space further away.
- Social distance: When we describe someone that is different to us, we use abstract qualities (them and us).
- Hypothetically: We use abstract words and terms to describe events that may not happen compared to events that are more likely to happen.
Psychological Distancing and Executive Functioning
Executive functioning is the set of abilities and behaviors that is controlled by the frontal lobe, including:
- Goal-directed and planning behaviours, such as deciding how to get dressed.
- Inhibiting responses such as waiting your turn.
- Monitoring your behavior and correcting mistakes.
- Changing your behavior in response to a change in the environment.
Executive functioning helps you to regulate your emotions better, which gives rise to psychological distancing.
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Key Ideas
Proaction and the “possible you”
Proaction is the “possible you” that:
- spots and prevents problems
- identifies, pursues, and captures opportunities
- create...
Proaction Principles
- Think well ahead.
- Make sure your decisions suit your own values and interests.
- Think strategically.
- Proaction requires not just thinking but doing.
- Learn and adapt rapidly through trial and error.
- Grit matters, but you also need to learn along the way and adjust.
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Key Ideas
The 2 Models of Human Development
- The 'Surrender Yourself' model dials up your levels of happiness as you progress from your basic needs (like food and good health) towards your achievements like recognized success, or ...
Self-Actualization
It implies acknowledging and respecting the sacredness and uniqueness of each kind of person. Self-Actualization also necessitates full access to information, full knowledge of the truth, and being able to choose without fear or social pressure.
The one thing left out of this theory is social psychology, as all the needs of a human being cannot be understood in isolation and social conditions are also necessary for personal growth.
Self-Transcendence
It involves advancing a cause greater and beyond the self, experiencing a drastic shift in perspective, beyond the confines of the self through the highest level of experience.
Self-transcenders have a completely selfless value system and are leaning towards serving humanity, with an eventual goal of transcending their ego.