Townhall.com
Tom Purcell
March 26, 2018

Boy, is narcissism getting out of hand with younger generations.

San Diego State psychologist Jean Twenge examines the trend in two books: "Generation Me" and "The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement."

Twenge says the self-esteem movement - in which everybody gets a trophy - has produced many "me-centered" young adults, whose opinions of their own skills and talents are often out of sync with reality.

Why is this an issue? Because, says Psychology Today, "true narcissists can only see things from their own perspective." They are incapable of the civility and thoughtful deliberation a representative republic requires to address the many challenges ours is facing.

Lucky for me, I grew up in the 70s when it was impossible to become self-centered.

Unlike many modern parents, who often give their children unique names to demonstrate how "special" they are, I was given the biblical name Thomas, after my father. I never took myself too seriously, because thousands of other kids had names - Bill, Bob, Tim, Joe - just as common.

Families were bigger in the 70s. Growing up as the only boy with five sisters was awfully humbling.

When I was 12, Bobby Grebber, the neighborhood bully, began roughing me up. Well, I didn't have older brothers to teach me how to fight; my sisters taught me. I looked Grebber dead in the eyes and said, "You are sooooo immature! Get a life!"

Even though I had five sisters, my father, always pinching pennies, made me wear hand-me-downs. It wasn't too bad most of the year, but Easter Sunday was unpleasant. Do you know how hard it is to outrun a bully with your pantyhose bunching up and your bonnet flopping in the wind?

We never experienced a self-esteem movement at St. Germaine Catholic School. The nuns didn't worry about making us feel good about ourselves. They focused on pounding values into us and making sure we mastered math, science, reading and writing. Any narcissistic tendencies were wacked out of us with a hard wooden ruler.

I attended a public high school, where I was finally able to attempt a little narcissism - until my parents saw a slip in my grades. That resulted in a temporary loss of every privilege. No B grade or better meant no car, friends or the freedom to leave the house.

I made it to Penn State University, where I gave narcissism a full go. It was there that I was introduced to my first love: Rolling Rock beer. By the time I was a junior, I had attained, to quote comedian Frank Nicotero, a "3.2" (blood-alcohol level).

But my parents intervened and humbled me yet again. No B grade or better meant no more cash.

What's worse, my father, worried that my liberal-arts major would fail to land me a job, persuaded me to sign up for more practical courses. I'm the only person ever to graduate from Penn State with a major in English and a minor in air conditioning and heating.

In any event, unlike older generations which had little choice but to be humbled out of their narcissistic impulses, newer generations are getting too self-centered.

Twenge tells NPR that millennials score higher on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory than prior generations. She says narcissism is evident in pop songs, which focus on the self, as well as in books that frequently use phrases such as "I am special" and "all about me."

And obsessive use of social media, home of the "selfie," certainly nurtures a narcissist's worst tendencies.

Perhaps parents should re-embrace some of the harsh child-rearing techniques of prior generations, so that we may reverse today's Narcissistic Personality Inventory scores.

Because today's growing narcissism is hurting an entire generation of our children, which is not good for our country.

Link

Parents better reverse it in a hurry.

quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:
Perhaps parents should re-embrace some of the harsh child-rearing techniques of prior generations, so that we may reverse today's Narcissistic Personality Inventory scores.

Because today's growing narcissism is hurting an entire generation of our children, which is not good for our country.

Some of us have been preaching this for thirty years (or more).

quote:

....But my parents intervened and humbled me yet again. No B grade or better meant no more cash....

Reminds me of the quip, a college kid writes home to his parents, "No mon, No fun, Your son". The dad writes back "Too bad, So sad, Your dad".

But the bottom line of the piece seems to be that the culture of equality/diversity/tolerance leads to a lazy self-centered generation. Makes sense, seems to fit what I see around me.

I personally think the rise of social media has more to do with it. Facebook, My Space, Instagram, Twitter it is all about "look at me". It convinces people that everyone else is interested in what you are doing, how great your life is, what you are eating for dinner and what your opinion is.

quote:

Originally posted by Poacher:
Parents better reverse it in a hurry.

Who do you think started it?
"Ohhh, Our baby DESERVES a trophy!"

quote:

Originally posted by paceac:
I personally think the rise of social media has more to do with it. Facebook, My Space, Instagram, Twitter it is all about "look at me". It convinces people that everyone else is interested in what you are doing, how great your life is, what you are eating for dinner and what your opinion is.

Maybe it's a chicken and egg thing. Is it the me generaton that feeds social medial. Or is it social media that feeds the me generation.

They call them "selfies" because narcisstee is too hard to spell. Or pronounce.

I saw it here some time ago--call it the "LAME" generation:

Look
At
Me
Everyone

Here is how the millennials would “appropriate” the lyrics to My Country Tis of Thee.

My country, Tis of Me,
Sweet land of tyranny
Of Me I see.
Land where my fathers lie
Land that the pilgrims stole
From every mountain sight,
Let prayers be to Me.

My father's supporting Me,
Author of liberty
To Me we sing.
Long may My land be bright
With progressivism’s holy light
Protect us by My mind,
Great Me, your king.