Familiarize yourself with Piaget's concept of egocentrism the notion that an individual believes everyone else must think, see, hear, feel, and experience the world just as they do. Now recall experiences you have had with adults who believe the same thing. It may be someone else, or it may even be you! Many of our assumptions about those we work and live with result from egocentric tendencies. If we have particular opinions, values, or expectations, we often function as though others share those same notions. We may perceive particular situations in a way that we then expect others to do as well. Not until we are met with disappointment or shock do we come to realize (if we even do) that just because we looked at something from a particular point of view, that not everyone did. Start paying attention to how you initially assume other people experience the world-you may be surprised. Many disagreements, arguments, and hurt feelings are often the result of people simply assuming that others share their particular perspective on things. Discuss how, as adults, we are cognitively able to avoid this behavior-with increased awareness and sensitivity to others but that children cognitively are not capable of doing so. Also, clarify the difference between being egocentric and egotistic. en .5 en S .09