There was an account of psychology that was taken to show man as irredeemably selfish.

ECONOMIST: Britain��s first modern philosopher

So the notion of "Homo economicus, " schooled by capitalism to be shortsightedly selfish, is these days something of a straw man ("Homo stramineus"?).

WSJ: Have We Evolved to Be Nasty or Nice? | Mind & Matter

Her visit to a smug, shallow man about to be knighted will radically change his selfish, well-ordered world.

WSJ: Review: 2 J.M. Barrie comedies smart, breezy

Paradoxically, the only way the young man can gain the wisdom he seeks is by ridding himself of the selfish motivations that inspired him to arrogantly approach the Rabbi in the first place, loudly proclaiming his qualifications.

FORBES: The Rabbi's Four Leadership Lessons, Part 3