self-involvement: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal
Quick answer
What does “self-involvement” mean?
Excessive preoccupation with one's own interests, feelings, or affairs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Excessive preoccupation with one's own interests, feelings, or affairs.
In psychological contexts, it refers to a state where an individual is overly focused on themselves, often leading to social isolation or lack of empathy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Similarly negative in both varieties, implying excessive self-focus.
Frequency
Equally uncommon in both dialects, primarily used in formal or academic settings.
Grammar
How to Use “self-involvement” in a Sentence
self-involvement in [activity]self-involvement with [one's thoughts]self-involvement that [clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-involvement” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He often involves himself too deeply in his own affairs.
- She tends to immerse herself in personal matters.
American English
- He gets too wrapped up in his own world.
- She focuses excessively on her own problems.
adverb
British English
- He acted self-involvedly during the discussion.
- She spoke self-involvedly about her achievements.
American English
- He behaved in a self-involved manner.
- She talked self-involvedly throughout the meeting.
adjective
British English
- He is rather self-involved and doesn't notice others' needs.
- Her self-involved attitude is off-putting.
American English
- She comes across as very self-involved.
- His self-involved behavior is a problem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Seldom used; if so, to criticize leaders who are overly self-focused and neglect team dynamics.
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, and literary criticism to analyze character traits or social behaviors.
Everyday
Used in descriptive or critical language to point out someone's selfish behavior.
Technical
In clinical settings, may be part of assessments for personality disorders or social functioning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-involvement”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-involvement”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-involvement”
- Using it as a positive trait; it is generally negative.
- Mistaking it for 'self-involvement' in the sense of participating in an activity oneself, which is not the primary meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Self-involvement refers to an excessive focus on oneself, often to the exclusion of others, and typically has a negative connotation.
Not exactly; narcissism is a stronger, more pathological form of self-involvement, often associated with narcissistic personality disorder, while self-involvement can be a milder trait.
Generally, no; it is viewed negatively as it implies selfishness or lack of empathy. However, in some contexts, self-reflection or self-care might be confused with self-involvement but are different.
Example: 'Her self-involvement was evident when she dominated the conversation with stories about herself.'
Excessive preoccupation with one's own interests, feelings, or affairs.
Self-involvement is usually formal in register.
Self-involvement: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɛlf ɪnˈvɒlvmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛlf ɪnˈvɑːlvmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'self-involvement' by breaking it down: 'self' means oneself, and 'involvement' means engagement, so it's being engaged only with oneself.
Conceptual Metaphor
The self as a vortex that draws all attention inward, leaving others outside.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'self-involvement'?