THE CULTURAL
Self-centeredness: Introduction
The dominant culture encourages people, for their own benefit, to move up the ranks of wealth, power, and status and look down on and dominate those below. These values are reflected in messages that are commonplace in our culture. Someone must always be in charge. You can grow up to be whatever you want. You can do whatever you want. The only limit is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them. You have to look out for number one. You have to take care of yourself before you can help others. Keep ahead of the Jones. Seek the American Dream. Shop ‘til you drop.
Self-centered values and beliefs prevail. Selfish ambition becomes a way to reinforce one’s sense of self, one’s identity. People learn to be driven by pride and ego. Society teaches people to engage in efforts to prove themselves, get praise, and gain power over others. They become primarily dedicated to increasing or protecting their own power. They want to advance themselves (and their families) without regard for the impact on others or the environment. When they win, others lose.
The dominant culture legitimizes the unequal distribution of advantages, so those who hold more advantages accept their privileges without guilt. Some people may provide some support to others’ empowerment, but their own needs come first. People get more than they give. They prefer to dominate rather than struggle with the difficult task of developing co-equal partnerships. They believe top-down power relationships are part of the natural order. “What’s in it for me?” is modern society’s mantra.
David Brooks comments: “I’d say that, starting in the late 1960s, there was left wing self-centeredness in the social and lifestyle sphere and right wing self-centeredness in the economic sphere, with a lack of support for common-good public policies. But it was socially celebrated self-centeredness all the way across. It was based on a fallacy: If we all do our own thing, everything will work out well for everybody.”