self-interest

Type: Concept

As of November 2026, self-interest has been mentioned in one podcast episode on School of Hard Knocks (Aug 2025). Presented as acceptable and necessary, but contrasted with selfishness in a closing moral lesson.

Self-interest generally refers to a focus on the needs or desires (interests) of one's self. Most times, actions that display self-interest are often performed without conscious knowing. A number of philosophical, psychological, and economic theories examine the role of self-interest in motivating human action. Individuals may have a self-serving bias towards their self-interest.