Narcissism On the Rise: Are YOU special?
February 27, 2007
A joint article from CNN and StudentNews discusses a new study was presented this week that suggests that “vanity is on the rise among college students.” Having just graduated, I’d say that’s impossible. You can’t get more self-centered beyond a certain point; I’ve seen some pretty bad cases around campus.
The egocentric practice of talking on one’s cell phone in any circumstance, regardless of the situation, and without any regard to privacy or propriety, is one of the most rampant evidenced on campuses across the country. Ever go into a public bathroom to be walked in on by someone talking to their dad or mom or friend on their cell phone? Well, we all have. The sheer indignity! And worse, the offender is oblivious. They don’t give a shit. (Though maybe they do, seeing as they’re talking on the phone in the stall right next to you.) Alas, all you can do is wait for the opportune moment, flush and hope that the person on the other end of the line hears it and wonders what’s going on.
The study in question was presented today at a conference by Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University, and involved data from an evaluation called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, and spans from 1982 to 2006. Why are we being called Generation ME, and did this come from out of the blue? It doesn’t seem so:
“The researchers traced the phenomenon back to what they called the “self-esteem movement” that emerged in the 1980s, asserting that the effort to build self-confidence had gone too far.
As an example, Twenge cited a song commonly sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques” in preschool: “I am special, I am special. Look at me.”
“Current technology fuels the increase in narcissism,” Twenge said. “By its very name, MySpace encourages attention-seeking, as does YouTube.”
Some analysts have commended today’s young people for increased commitment to volunteer work. But Twenge viewed even this phenomenon skeptically, noting that many high schools require community service and many youths feel pressure to list such endeavors on college applications.”
From: “Study: Vanity on the rise among college students,” The Associated Press.
Full Article
The article mentions MySpace and YouTube in particular as websites that fuel attention-seeking behavior— do you think this is valid? If so, what do you think this says for individual blogs like those on wordpress? I almost hate to think what sort of responses this may elicit; have at it! 
Entry Filed under: Jean Twenge, cell phones, college, college students, myspace, narcissism, youtube. .
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1.
adkgirl06 | February 28, 2007 at 1:47 am
Seped, 23M, Terre Haute, Indiana, United States, Today, 6:45pm:
People are just finding new places to get their 15 minutes of fame
As for cell phone rudeness, I’ve never had a problem or experience the things you mentioned, so perhaps it’s just a localized phenomena to higher populated areas.
2.
adkgirl06 | February 28, 2007 at 1:47 am
LobsterPhone, 23M, Rolla, Missouri, United States; 46 minutes ago:
I dont think the “self-esteem movement” is to blame. Narcissism doesn’t mean having too much self-esteem. Most of the people I know that exhibit narcissistic traits such as seeking constant attention and positive reinforcement from others, jealousy, lack of empathy, overraction to criticism, (etc etc) usually have pretty obvious lack of self-esteem. The people I know with no shortage of self-esteem dont need the attention and positive reinforcement that MySpace junkies seem to crave.
3.
adkgirl06 | February 28, 2007 at 1:48 am
adam883, 26M, Nashville, Tennessee, United States; 24 minutes ago:
Even before I read the entire journal, MySpace popped into my head as a haven for internet narcissists (or maybe that’s SuicideGirls….hmm…). I’ve noticed it with people younger than me who throw birthday parties for themselves 3 nights straight and expect everyone to attend to celebrate their special night. Meh, I’ll be sure to thank the 80s next time I see another MySpace bulletins along the lines of ‘I just answered 100 questions ALL ABOUT ME and I’m sure you want to know more about ME because EVERYONE DOES!!!’
4.
adkgirl06 | February 28, 2007 at 1:48 am
stealingjoy, 26M, Oxford, Ohio, United States; 13 minutes ago:
I just read that article today and I have to agree with it. As someone who works around college students when they don’t have to be on good behavior, the lack of self-centeredness and inconsideration of other people is quite clear and immensely frustrating. I do think the cultural and technological influences play a large part in it, but at least from what I’ve seen, inherited privilege is also a pretty big factor. Rich/semi-rich parents who gift their kids anything they want and let them do most anything they want are a big reason why they become such self-centered assholes when they’re living on their own. People who’ve got a little dirt on them, metaphorically speaking, seem to have a better sense of themselves in context with the rest of humanity. This is all, of course, generally speaking.
5.
elpolaco | February 28, 2007 at 2:46 am
I deal with tango. How much attention seeking does that involve! You are talking superstars. In fact, my blog deals with therapies that are aimed precisely at this. I agree with the person who says that people are just looking for new ways to attract attention. Nothing new for me here, but interesting noneheless.
Also, I used to teach philosophy on a uni campus in the 1990’s. I found it shocking how people used mobiles during the tutorial. But lately I have realised that basically all of this is just a social disease that is not easily cured and that has been around since the advent of Hollywood and … affluent lifestyles (sorry to plug that one again).
So no real point getting upset about it. I’m just looking for a bit of space to dance which is superstar-free … SUPERSTAR-FREE ZONE …
Also (sorry), I am writing a post on Marcuse who talks about ‘repression-free education’ … a bit brainy but might be of interest … will post in a couple of days …
Good post.
6.
mannabozo | February 28, 2007 at 6:42 am
I am glad to see this post – thank you for it.
I live in a college town in Delaware – as I write this I’m literally just a few blocks from Main Street in Newark, Delaware: home of some of the most obnoxious, status-and-self-obsessed rich college kids in the nation. I’ve been living and working in this college town for the past seven years and I can absolutely verify that college kids these days have achieved a real “fever pitch” to their narcissism.
You canNOT take a walk down Main Street on any given day here without seeing the college kids in the Abersnobbie & Bitch uniforms, the loser frat boys with the crew cuts and popped collars, the sorostitutes with the glam sunglasses and the Victoria’s Secret sweatpants that have the provocative word “Pink” written across their little asses. It’s literally like a parade on the main strip (these are kids walking to and from CLASS, mind you) to show off who’s Daddy and Mommy has the most money. They’re dressed like they’re going out to a wild party to meet maybe their future wife or husband, but they’re going to class. The professors at the University here actually have had to make anti-cellphone policies for their classes. Which is to say, so many kids were answering their phones in class that a need was created to address the problem. Oh, yes, these kids are pretty vain, alright.
And the cellphone thing? Forget about it – the kids here treat their cellphones as if they were life support machines.
Perhaps paradoxically, I don’t think blogs reflect this narcissism at all. Firstly, I believe this narcissism is specific to the kids who are currently college-aged. Secondly, I see many bloggers who are much, much older than people in their vain 20’s (or even early 30’s, hehe). Thirdly, many people (it seems to me) use their blogs to observe outside phenomena and comment on it.
And here I’ll agree also with what adkgirl06 said about cultural influences coming into play here, too. We reap what we so, I’m afraid.
Good post.
7.
elpolaco | February 28, 2007 at 9:36 am
“Perhaps paradoxically, I don’t think blogs reflect this narcissism at all. Firstly, I believe this narcissism is specific to the kids who are currently college-aged. Secondly, I see many bloggers who are much, much older than people in their vain 20’s (or even early 30’s, hehe). Thirdly, many people (it seems to me) use their blogs to observe outside phenomena and comment on it.”
Yeah, I was thinking about that point and what you say is right. The worst thing that can happen is you come across someone’s stream of consciousness stuff and you just leave it. Not that much room for narcissism: you can’t really impose your blog on people as you do with phones or general public behaviour.
I think blogs are the best thing for to happen for creative writing etc. since the printing press. People care much more about what they write in their blogs then what appears in their books which often has been pre-digested a thousand times and is 2 years out of date before it even comes out.
8.
Samsi | June 27, 2007 at 8:40 am
Going back to myspace comment, that place is making many people believe an image of themselves that does not really exists. I live in Barcelona, and I met an American guy living in California, he told me about his mypace page and that he was an actor-producer.That page looked really good, like he knew many people in the Hollywood industry and that he had a very interesting job. We kept in touch and I went to LA to visit him, NOTHING was real, he lived in a small room in a condo, he was out of work, even though he worked every now and then he was paid maybe $ 100 for his acting one minute in movies that are hardly released in dvd…his mypace page had nothing to do with his real world. The saddest thing of this is that he really believed he was special and successful and had this grandiose image of himself, this did not make him see reality as it was. He spent 90 percent of the time on the bed of the room chatting with people in the internet, it was difficult to interact with him. That narcissism prevented him from actual productivity and personal interacions with people for which he was unable.
But anybody seeing his page would think this is his reality and they still feed his ego by posting comments, etc. When someone needs to hear from others how good they are and how well they look……this creates an addiction.
Internet is a great tool for information and communication, but a misused of it can lead to terrible personal consequences.