'self-absorption' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'absorption', where 'self' refers to one's own person and 'absorption' means the act of being engrossed or fully occupied.

'self-absorption' evolved from the concept of 'absorption' in the 19th century, emphasizing the focus on oneself.

Initially, it meant 'being fully occupied with oneself,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.