The Narcissistic Generation

[Nikijad4210]

Thought of the day:

Are humans naturally narcissistic to one extent or another? Or is it purely a learned behavior?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17349066/

College students think they're so special
Study finds alarming rise in narcissism, self-centeredness in ‘Generation Me’

Janet Hamlin / AP

Updated: 7:43 p.m. ET Feb 27, 2007
NEW YORK - Today’s college students are more narcissistic and self-centered than their predecessors, according to a comprehensive new study by five psychologists who worry that the trend could be harmful to personal relationships and American society.

“We need to stop endlessly repeating ‘You’re special’ and having children repeat that back,” said the study’s lead author, Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University. “Kids are self-centered enough already.”

Twenge and her colleagues, in findings to be presented at a workshop Tuesday in San Diego on the generation gap, examined the responses of 16,475 college students nationwide who completed an evaluation called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory between 1982 and 2006.

The standardized inventory, known as the NPI, asks for responses to such statements as “If I ruled the world, it would be a better place,” “I think I am a special person” and “I can live my life any way I want to.”

The researchers describe their study as the largest ever of its type and say students’ NPI scores have risen steadily since the current test was introduced in 1982. By 2006, they said, two-thirds of the students had above-average scores, 30 percent more than in 1982.


We're all above average!
Narcissism can have benefits, said study co-author W. Keith Campbell of the University of Georgia, suggesting it could be useful in meeting new people “or auditioning on ‘American Idol.”’

“Unfortunately, narcissism can also have very negative consequences for society, including the breakdown of close relationships with others,” he said.

The study asserts that narcissists “are more likely to have romantic relationships that are short-lived, at risk for infidelity, lack emotional warmth, and to exhibit game-playing, dishonesty, and over-controlling and violent behaviors.”

Twenge, the author of “Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — and More Miserable Than Ever Before,” said narcissists tend to lack empathy, react aggressively to criticism and favor self-promotion over helping others.

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.

‘I am special, I am special’
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.

Campbell said the narcissism upsurge seemed so pronounced that he was unsure if there were obvious remedies.

“Permissiveness seems to be a component,” he said. “A potential antidote would be more authoritative parenting. Less indulgence might be called for.”

The new report follows a study released by UCLA last month which found that nearly three-quarters of the freshmen it surveyed thought it was important to be “very well-off financially.” That compared with 62.5 percent who said the same in 1980 and 42 percent in 1966.

Yet students, while acknowledging some legitimacy to such findings, don’t necessarily accept negative generalizations about their generation.

Hanady Kader, a University of Washington senior, said she worked unpaid last summer helping resettle refugees and considers many of her peers to be civic-minded. But she is dismayed by the competitiveness of some students who seem prematurely focused on career status.

“We’re encouraged a lot to be individuals and go out there and do what you want, and nobody should stand in your way,” Kader said. “I can see goals and ambitions getting in the way of other things like relationships.”

Kari Dalane, a University of Vermont sophomore, says most of her contemporaries are politically active and not overly self-centered.

Enough about me, what do you think about me?
“People are worried about themselves — but in the sense of where are they’re going to find a place in the world,” she said. “People want to look their best, have a good time, but it doesn’t mean they’re not concerned about the rest of the world.”

Besides, some of the responses on the narcissism test might not be worrisome, Dalane said. “It would be more depressing if people answered, ‘No, I’m not special.”’

 

[Guest]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsAXUuJR7J0

Redemption Song Baby

..Turn your lights down low...

Woman no cry !!!

My name is Hello..

Bobby was singing about "mental slavery"...

Overstand!!!!!

Kisses and hugs

SF

 

[Guest]

Super luminous beings!!!

Super luminous beings!!!

Stop thinking babe

You are like super-cute...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlzltCS_LuE

And NOW you see the light

YES?

Did I answer your question smart girl?

 

[Ruosk]

I think sudden changes in our living conditions and unability to cope with the change has turned pretty much whole of the western culture to narcissistic and egocentric in many ways. People need no longer strife for food and such basic necessities so life may seems confusing and maybe even meaningless (also thanks to physicalistic / nihilistic, un-mystical modern world views which, though, in turn seem quite honest at least).

About being special, "every man and every woman is a star", if they want to be. But being special and loving yourself doesn't have to mean thinking that you're somehow above others but rather give one strong, clear and healthy image of self that is very much capable to work with others, which has always been human kind's strongest evolutionary advantage, so that everyone benefits.

edit: uh, pretty.. off topic. shouldn't post this high

 

[Guest]

The ego is narcicistic.....

But I understand the question...

My point was that it is not THE POINT... It's relatively moronic

The mind is for fighting... Analysing dr. froid

froid = cold in french man

 

[Guest]

hey loose canon

hey loose canon

Right!!!!! ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmHziduwBgI

Submit and commit

 

[Guest]

I killed my tv.... damn

 

[Guest]

There's deffinately a difference between narcist and selfish. I think there are many factors here. As Ruosk points out; people no longer struggle and fight for life the way they used to have to. You used to have to earn the right to live but people now just feel they deserve the right to live. Ever heard the saying "You are only alive because it's illegal to kill you". I think this would show that there are plenty who still understand that life is given to everyone but not all deserve to keep it. Economics also must play a big part; it's hard to believe that you are better than others when those around you are better off than you. Increasingly, people are paying less debts back. In the old days, people would be ashamed to be delinquent on payments but nowadays; people write it off as not only themselves deserving nice things in life but that the collections companies deserve to be left out. Children at school are no longer allowed to give a girl a valentine because she is special to you; it's not fair to the other non-special girls. You must make them all feel special or none at all.
As more children are made to feel special without anything special to offer, we will continue to see more adults who have earned nothing and deserve everything aka narcicism

J.

 

[Ohh.Word]

interesting find Nikijad

 

[Trichome Toker]

I have came very close to beating some college students to death.

Some are very reserved and cool, but I ran into a few that just don't seem to believe they can get their ass beat, probably because they never have before.

I think whenever you have a large group of young people you are going to have some serious assholes.

 

[Rubberband Man]

Go to any college and you'll find some really arrogant self entitled people (a lot of them anyways). It was like that when i went to college, I even admit i acted in this way as well.

I think women are to blame for our egocentric views. I used the "women problems" excuse one time when I was caught punching a street sign by a police officer.

Universities shelter their students from getting in trouble with the law. Its like when ur a student, u have ur own set of rules and as long as you dont cross certain boundaries you'll be okay. If ur caught walking around campus drunk and bothering people, the school will discipline, not the courts.

 

[NOKUY]

Im Misanthropic, Narcissistic and Selfish

 

[Guest]

just don't seem to believe they can get their ass beat, probably because they never have before.

The westside of the city here is mid-upper end homes and incomes with guys that are mid 20's actin like preteens, with that arrogance like you can't touch 'em.......except these guys are not minors. Hardly none of them ever come to this end of town cause they don't wanna really fight, they wanna talk, brag and show off for girls at those sporty little college bars; fuckin sissies!

J.

 

[Yummybud]

In western cultures people are more narcicistic. I think it's more of a learned thing. In many asian countries like Japan people are less self centered and think more about the group, like their family, friends, work as a whole.

even asian countries are probably now changing due to western/ mainly American influence, in movies etc.

with the spread of technology and the media soon everyone in the world will have the American dream.

 

[_angst_]

I believe western society breeds narcissism. It's in the media. It's the Paris Hilton's and Britney Spears'.

 

[Trichome Toker]

Until you get out of school you are basically a child anyway.

With the exception of a minority of students who live on their own and pay their way through college (respect), most college students are glorified high schoolers whose parents pay for everything and live in some air conditioned dorm, and just basically if they got cut off from their family they would be on the street begging for dollars in 30 days.

 

[Yummybud]

^ true that hahaha. My choice is to go to univerisity or work a minimum wage job and starve in a little apartment or become a hobo.

being a student I don't even have to work to survive, which is a good /bad thing.

university is just a bigger highschool I agree. Maybe students in graduate school are different than the undergrads.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I believe western society breeds narcissism. It's in the media. It's the Paris Hilton's and Britney Spears'.

Western society did have a balance to narcissism, it was called religion. Now we worship ourselves, money, and the rich and powerful.

 

[NOKUY]

. Now we worship ourselves.

Ha Ha ...thats funny I tell people that all the time ("I worship myself")....anytime a religious conversation comes up.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I doubt you worship yourself the way a California yuppy does, you seem too real.