Study: College students today are more narcissistic/impact on society/relations with other-what do you think?

Question

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."

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."

"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 e

Answer 1

to stop telling children they are special will lead to children with no self esteem.

i recently watched a program when an older man (in his 80's) was ranting and complaining about how this younger generation (including people up to the age of 60) was too self centered and how they worried too much about thier own happiness and went to school to learn what they wanted and worried about finding a job they liked, where as his generation people took what ever job they could get. they did not worry about being happy. they were worried about finding a wife who could bare children and keep a good clean house.

personally i don't thing it is a bad thing to want to be happy. as long as you are not happy at someone else's expense. if a person is happy witht hier life, what is it anone else's concern as to what makes them happy?

If i am happy going from one relationship to the next, what is that any concern of yours? if i want to live my life how i like, as long as it is not directly impacting your life, why do you care?

i think there are a lot of self centered people yes, but blame it more on the media who is diefying spoiled brats like paris hilton & all those rich snobs on the MTV shows like my sweet sixteen!!!

personally if a researcher is so bent on putting people down because they live thier life the way it makes them happy - tell them to look in the mirror - that researcher is not out there doing studies and trying to published - because they are being forced to - they are doing it becuase they LOVE the attention and they think THEY ARE SPECIAL - and they think THEY KNOW MORE THEN EVERYONE ELSE - or else they would not be trying to share thier research with the whole world and making thier IDEA turn into fact

Answer 2

This is the natural consequence, a defense mechanism, due to being programmed in a society where it is considered heroic to go around killing people from other societies.

The basic reason why it keeps getting worse is that guilt feels worse, and rightly so. Therefore lack of consciousness is encouraged and mechanicalness is encouraged. This can be called sleep. It then becomes a habit which will only be broken in time the same way it has been in history, for example with the Spartans.

Remember that studies and experiments are influenced by the experimenters. The results achieved are the very ones that are desired and expected.

Focus on negative thoughts can only attract more of the same, so the solution could be easy. It is simply a change of focus to one of appreciating and loving.

One person who awakens is more powerful than a million who are asleep. Look at the difference that one man was able to make to Indian society. Unfortunately these people are not understood by the masses.

Answer 3

I'd like to see the article for this study that appears published in a Psychological journal.

I don't really like how this was presented to the public- It will draw people to generalize about college students and my generation as a whole. We are already labeled as the lazy technology generation and now we are self-centered too? That sucks- lol.
You think that would lower our self esteem a little.

Also, I was skeptical because they only identified one cause of the rise in narcissism in the news article. I really think that whoever wrote that article might not have told the whole story because usually psychological studies identify many more causes so I would really like to see the article from the actual study.

From the news article it mostly seems to be a correlational study so it identifies a correlation, but people cannot jump to conclusions about it. Then again it might have gone more in depth than the article makes it out to be.

Actually, there is a whole book about it byJean Twenge. I guess that the web article must have been a promotion. I just hope that people don't jump to conclusions right away from it.

Anyway, here is an summary of the book I found- looks like it'll bee good!
I

n this provocative new book, headline-making psychologist and social commentator Dr. Jean Twenge documents the self-focus of what she calls "Generation Me"--people born in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Herself a member of Generation Me, Dr. Twenge explores why her generation is tolerant, confident, open-minded, and ambitious but also cynical, depressed, lonely, and anxious. Using findings from the largest intergenerational study ever conducted--with data from 1.3 million respondents spanning six decades--Dr. Twenge reveals how profoundly different today's young adults are--and makes controversial predictions about what the future holds for them and society as a whole. But Dr. Twenge doesn't just talk statistics--she highlights real-life people and stories and vividly brings to life the hopes and dreams, disappointments and challenges of Generation Me. With a good deal of irony, humor, and sympathy she demonstrates that today's young people have been raised to aim for the stars at a time when it is more difficult than ever to get into college, find a good job, and afford a house--even with two incomes. GenMe's expectations have been raised just as the world is becoming more competitive, creating an enormous clash between expectations and reality. Dr. Twenge also presents the often-shocking truths about her generation's dramatically different sexual behavior and mores. GenMe has created a profound shift in the American character, changing what it means to be an individual in today's society.

Answer 4

I've been saying this same thing for years and think that the study is dead on point!

People have been ingrained with this need to 'boost self esteem' within their children and have created little egotists who are SO self indulgent and self centered that they dont' really know how to function witht he rest of society. This idea that 'everyone is special' is a boatload of feel-good crap, most likely espoused by the psycho-babble community to raise mediocrity in society to a falsely inflated level of self worth.

The result: Kids who underachieve, have no sense of accomplishment because they believe everything should be given to them, and social retards who truly believe that everyone should be in love with them for being average and unremarkable.

Answer 5

Well--as a current college student, I feel obligated to give input.

I do not think that kids shouldn't be told they are special--self esteem is very important.

But--telling a kid he is important is completely different from letting the child do whatever he wants. I think some parents think that telling a child no--is hindering his freedom and is mean and is bad for self esteem. I think the problem with today's children is not being told they are special, but instead a lack of discipline!

Traditionally--parents resorted to spanking as a punishment and as long as this wasn't abused, kids turned out fine--and they understood they couldn't do everything they wanted. Now, parents get so many conflicting ideas about discipline. You shouldn't spank your child! (and I do agree with this) I think most parents compute this idea with no punishment--which shouldn't be the case. Sometimes punishment is a necessary part of discipline.

Also, I think consistency plays a role too. Some parents may reason too much with their kids. While listening to a child's point of view is fine, it should not be the final word--the parents should make the decisions and stick to them.

So--I think children should be told they are special--and should be reminded that if they work hard enough, they will achieve. I think the problem lies in the lack of discipline that has resulted as a focus on the child's esteem.

-edit--------------
You know, I've been thinking about this ever since the question was posted.

My original response was based on the fact that I wasn't told I was special and I had my own self-esteem problems to deal with growing up. But, I actually think my self-esteem was more influenced by my mom's openly negative opinion about herself--not the fact that she didn't tell me I was special.

Also, I don't think I tell my two-year-old son he is special for no reason (except when he was just a baby). I praise him when he does something good--like putting trash in the trash can. And, I don't even tell him he is special; I usually tell him he is smart.

Anyway, my point is: I do think that telling a child he is special for no reason will have a negative effect on that child. He will expect rewards for doing nothing. He will expect praise for mediocrity.

But, I also think that every generation has to "grow up"--have experiences, learn about themselves, learn about the best way to interact with others, etc. I think this generation too, will learn that. Even though parents praised their children for nothing--we do not expect college teachers and employers to do the same.

Answer 6

Whom ever did the study, I wonder if the correlated it with the average age of the student population. I suspect they will find that the age is probably around 20-21. When I was college, the average age was 25-30. The point being, that attitudes change as we get older and become more experience in the ways of the world. Most college kids are naive and feel they have all the answers, They will, in time, learn that this is not so.

Answer 7

I wish my parents would have said stuff like that to me when I was a kid. I'm 37 and have a low self esteem. I, to this day, ask them to encourage me or say something. They don't. So I had to go out and look for like minded people. I do believe that we need to know what to say to either instill narcissism or self esteem. There has got to be a difference.

Answer 8

Kids are special and there is nothing wrong with letting them know. You let them know by teaching them responsibility, letting them be self sufficient and self reliant and not catering to them. Children today are given cell phones in grade school,have every electronic device in their rooms and and doing anything they want to. As they get older they expect the same type of treatment and display that attitude.

Answer 9

schools these days are blowing artificially inflated EGO up these kids asses and OVERINFLATES these sorry ingrates , most kids these days SUCK BIG TIME!!!!! I also blame this gen of parents, what a bunch of slackoid braindead gen of parents !!! just because one can hump and reproduce does not mean they are fit to actually raise a human being that will not turn out to be a complete peice of walking fecal matter!! lets get to the over emphisis on SPORTS!! what a bunch of CRAP!!! How many kids actually turn into pro athletes? like maybe 5%. thats it!! your sorry looser children are not going to be pro athletes!! so why the emphisis? A prep rally is an orgy of EGO, lets start with the war like pounding of the drums, then enters our psuedo-warriors, the football team , lets bloat our egos and tell ourselves things like WE are the best, and what about the overinflating of pride at aprep rally? AMerican public schools SUCK!! and these horrible little ego monsters are aproduct of that system. hi skool teachers can really suck too, what abunch of loosers who had to come back to hi skool because its the only place they cabn still be a SOMEBODY.

Answer 10

This goes very well with my belief that kids are not special, that lying to them is never a good thing, and that the truth IS special.

Welcome to the real world.