self-focus

1. the direction of conscious attention on oneself and one’s thoughts, needs, desires, and emotions. Trait self-focus refers to a chronic habit or pattern of self-consciousness, whereas state self-focus refers to objective self-awareness. An excess of trait self-focus has been associated with the development of, or with heightened vulnerability to, several mental health disorders, such as alcohol abuse, depression, and anxiety diorders. Also called self-focused attention.

2. the capacity of an individual to analyze and evaluate his or her mental and emotional states.

3. excessive concern for the self and its needs: selfishness. —self-focused adj.

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Psychology term of the day

February 25th 2025

ritualization

n. the process by which a normal behavioral action becomes a communication signal representing the behavior or its physiological consequence. For example, among nonhuman animals, threat displays may be the ritualization of the conflict between attack and escape, incorporating aspects of both, or a ritualization solely of impending attack, as when dogs pull back their lips in a snarl in response to a threat. This lip-pulling began as a way for dogs to avoid biting themselves in an attack, but as other animals recognized this behavior as a precursor to biting, it became ritualized into a warning communication. Animals learn that ritualized behavior can be an effective form of avoiding a fight.