Toward a Less Egoic World

1. Toward a Less Egoic World Mark Leary

3. 1976

4. 1976

5. 1976-1996 ● Self-presentation / impression management →Social anxiety and embarrassment →Blushing →Reactions to interpersonal rejection →Hurt feelings →The interpersonal function of self-esteem

6. Only because human beings have a capacity for conscious self-awareness can they: • Think consciously about the past and future • Introspect on their inner states • Evaluate their personal characteristics • Imagine how they are perceived by others • Engage in volitional self-change

7. Self-preoccupation, rumination, and distraction • Self-generated stress and negative emotions • Dysfunctional escapism • Bad decisions based on egoicgoals • Arrogance, belief superiority • Relationship problems • Interpersonal conflict • Excessive entitlement and selfishness

8. Self-preoccupation, rumination, and distraction • Self-generated stress and negative emotions • Dysfunctional escapism • Bad decisions based on egoicgoals • Arrogance, belief superiority • Relationship problems • Interpersonal conflict • Excessive entitlement and selfishness

9. Egoicism • Not: • egoism (egoistic) • egotism (egotistic) • egocentrism (egocentric) BUT egoicism (egoic)

10. Egoicism • Not: • egoism (egoistic) • egotism (egotistic) • egocentrism (egocentric) BUT egoicism (egoic) Cognitions, motives, and emotions that are characterized by an overemphasis on I, me, and mine

11. Normative Egoicism High Low Egoicism What accounts for individual differences in people’s general degree of egoicism? What factors determine people’s level of egoicism at a particular moment?

12. What happens when people’s level of egoicism is lower than usual? Normative Egoicism Hypo-egoicism

13. Flow • Mindfulness • Interpersonal presence • Humility • Awe • Compassion • Self-compassion • Forgiveness • Gratitude • Mystical experiences • “Peace of mind” These phenomena occur only when people are in a hypo-egoic state.

14. Flow • Mindfulness • Interpersonal presence • Humility • Awe • Compassion • Self-compassion • Forgiveness • Gratitude • Mystical experiences • “Peace of mind”

15. I’m through with the past. Your turn. OK – let’s take a look at the future. 1976

16. 1976 2036

17. What can be done to nudge people – and society – in a less egoic direction? Egoic Behavior

18. What can be done to nudge people – and society – in a less egoic direction? Egoic Behavior

19. What can be done to nudge people – and society – in a less egoic direction? Egoic Behavior

20. At the personal and interpersonal level, lowering egoicism should reduce: • Self-preoccupation, rumination, and distraction • Self-generated stress and negative emotions • Dysfunctional escapism • Bad decisions based on egoicgoals and arrogance • Belief superiority • Relationship problems • Interpersonal conflict

21. At the societal level, lowering egoicism should reduce: • Ethnocentrism, prejudice, identity-based conflict • Theft, robbery • Violence • Entitlement, greed • Political discord and stalemates • Incivility • A variety of problems that are fueled by excessive self-centeredness and abject selfishness

22. Recognition that egoicism creates personal, interpersonal, and societal problems • Changes in norms regarding acceptable level of egoicism • Developmental, especially parental, influences • Educational interventions • Fostering common ingroup identities (and common humanity) • Interventions (mindfulness training, ACT-lite, DBT-lite) • Throughout, consider the evolutionary angle

23. Plans for Retirement: • Professional activities • “Toward a Less Egoic World” • “What is Wrong with People?” • Finish projects • Ongoing collaborations • Editor, Character and Context • Public talks

24. Plans for Retirement: • Professional activities • Live more slowly, sanely, and healthily • Old man retired stuff

25. I’m seeing a great reception ahead.

26. Thanks for coming!