United States of Narcissism

[DreamSmoker]

Self-obsession is on the rise in America, and the economic consequences could be dire.

Imagine a person who does what he wants, regardless of how it affects other people. He refuses to take responsibility for his own mistakes, and he believes he’s unbeatable at anything he undertakes, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Sounds like a textbook narcissist, right? Well, these days, it also sounds a lot like the United States.

Narcissism is on the rise in the U.S. It’s likely to get worse before it gets better, and the economic consequences will likely be severe. Americans today are happy to spend rather than sacrifice, leaving future generations with the bill instead of accepting higher taxes themselves. They choose to keep bathing in a sea of cheap credit rather than cracking down on the practices and institutions that led to the financial crisis. And all along, they insist that their economic system is the best even while neglecting future investments in the very things that make a productive society: education, infrastructure, and scientific research.

Psychologists have been tracking narcissism through surveys of American college students since the late 1970s, and levels of it—often measured as a lack of empathy—have never been higher, according to Sara Konrath, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s Research Center for Group Dynamics. “If you look at the levers in society, almost all of them are pushing us towards narcissism,” she says. These levers go beyond Twitter feeds and Facebook pages, which offer endless opportunities for self-admiration. They also include advertising that tells consumers “You’re worth it” and reality-TV shows that turn regular people against each other in a battle for celebrity.

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/narcissism-is-on-the-rise-in-america.html

[steve2470]

1. 1979: The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture_of_Narcissism

[snagglepuss]

2. I can't believe you are quoting a corporation pontificating about narcissism

being rampant in society. If they want to pontificate about greed and selfiness they should look at their behavor.


Unrec

[marions ghost]

4. EXACTLY

consider the source. Projection?

It may well be true, but let's look at where the worst Narcissists are operating in our society...let's look at where the people receiving the messages GET their ideas and attitudes...

--one of the rare times I would unrec

[snagglepuss]

5. A psychiatrist I know who also holds a degree in philosphy explained narcissists

differently. He says narcissists are those who see people purely as extensions of themselves. Narcisstic parents can for instance see their children simply as extensions of their arms. The child ends up seeing herselves as an arm rather than a complete person, there only to satisfy the parents needs.

I mention this because IMO this description captures how corporations/capitalists use people to reach their goals without any regard to society.

[marions ghost]

13. Yes

excellent point. :thumbsup:

Consumers treated as children, ie. as extensions of the parental corporate attitude. The mindset of the micro-cosm is absolutely mirrored in the macrocosm of the business world.

Nothing will change until the "children" grow up and rebel against the ties that bind. But like with actual children, it's a hard thing to do. The child/consumer risks losing a sense of security and may stay a pawn for life.

[Bonobo]

3. Narcissism is also being intolerant of others...like children. nt

[chalky]

6. Narcissism is also being shocked to find that not everyone finds one's progeny adorable when they're

sceaming blue murder and running amok in a restaurant.

[Bonobo]

7. Narcissism is expecting the world to stop rotating so you can enjoy 24 hour sun. nt

[chalky]

8. ???? Narcissism is spouting nonsense and expecting everyone to deem it profound.

[BOG PERSON]

15. narcissism is expecting your environment to adapt to you

[HappyMe]

9. Oh no! Why drag the damn kid argument here too? nt

[marions ghost]

12. The damn kid argument

is getting as annoying as a screaming kid around here.

:spank: kid topic, at least for AWHILE. It has all been said (and re-said)

OK maybe there is a link to Narcissism and this culture certainly promotes Narcissism--but hijacking another topic to go round after round on this is wearying. So maybe we need a gungeon for this topic. The two sides will NEVER agree on this issue.

Side 1: I should be allowed to inflict my out-of-control melting down kid on others at any time, any place. ("Leave Parents Alone!")

Side 2: I like eating in a restaurant where children of other patrons are better behaved and respect the rights of other customers and the owner.

These two sides will NEVER come together. So can we give it a rest. Or can we chalk this up to nerves about the country/economy? It seems too small to argue about but it is a convenient place to put generalized anxiety and feelings of powerlessness. This country as a whole is anxious to the point of distraction. So for that reason I cut everybody on both sides some slack...if only all we had to worry about was fussy kids.

[Warren DeMontague]

10. Newsweek lost whatever minor news value it had when Tina Brown took over.

A rag that thinks Americans want to read endless amounts of gobbledygook about fashion and the royal wedding has the balls to lecture us about "narcissism"? Give me a fucking break.

[marions ghost]

11. Right --you'd think it was owned by Murdoch

Didn't need him--they just imitated his "dumb it down" strategies. Feed 'em fashion, the Royal Wedding and Runaway Brides. Norway shooter followed by the latest on the Kardashians. Narcissism 101. Reinforcing it everywhere.

Sad what happened to Newsweek.

[swilton]

14. and Amnesia