You have a friend who regularly interrupts you and others. She tops every story you tell with a story that is more extreme. Even when you are talking, she plays with her jewelry and her hair, acting distracted and keeping the focus on her. This is a classic example of
A) egocentrism.
B) pseudolistening.
C) defensiveness.
D) stereotype.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Egocentrism is the tendency to see everything in relation to oneself; in this case, the friend is only focused on her own stories and experiences, and not truly listening or engaging with others. Pseudolistening is the act of pretending to listen while actually being distracted or disinterested, but the friend's behavior goes beyond this by actively interrupting and attempting to one-up others. Defensiveness and stereotype do not accurately explain the friend's behavior in this scenario.

You Have a Friend Who Regularly Interrupts You and Others