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I am not sure whether narcissism is truly increasing, or whether social media has just enabled it to come out and be more prevalent to the general population.
People used to crave their 15 minutes of fame, but now they can really get it just by going viral on youtube, facebook, or anything else.
Either way, I think there has been a disturbing trend in trying to falsely prop up the self esteem of our kids. Instead of providing structure, rules, and expectations in which they can flourish as individuals but still be responsible, polite, and appropriate, people instead through the rules out the window (maybe because it is easier, maybe to be PC, I do not know), and instead let the kids run their households. (not everyone of course, but I have seen enough parents whose lives are totally run by their kids, and not the other way around)
There's been no shortage of articles and books claiming that we're creating a culture of increasing Narcissism (both the everyday 'garden-variety' and the 'clinical' kind).
For example, signs that Narcissism is arguably on the increase, could include things like the growing lack of empathy towards others (i.e. attitudes re: 'underclass' folks, prisons, the use of 'torture', etc.), and the rising sense of "entitlement" (aka, "you owe me", "I'm Special", or "Get outta my way!").
Or maybe you're among those who feel that nothing's really changed and it's still just typical human nature. But if there is something "different" going on, then how are you noticing it in your day-to-day? And what, if anything, should we do about it?
Well, I can think of some possibilities for what you call the "garden-variety":
1. The emphasis on "me, myself, and I" that I've heard has been going around for decades... like the 'self-esteem' movement that's been in schools- you don't have to earn anything, everybody gets a trophy, games don't have winners and losers, etc.; and the 'self-improvement' movement that's been getting people to focus on Themselves, etc.
2. The modern concept that you're never supposed to say anything is Wrong- even crimes are chalked up to 'poor choices' and 'bad decisions' rather than saying certain actions are Wrong.
3. (this will give me more enemies than I already have)- fewer people today realize the importance of babies and little children bonding with their parent or parents. Not only is the bond not there, neither is the chance to teach values.
Definitely. We're in the "decade of the selfie" for crying out loud. I can't wait for it to bite the dust, however and whenever it happens.
Heck, this entire City-Data forum reeks of narcissistic, arrogant individuals who believe they're better than everyone else. They start topics complaining about how other people are different than they are, and that something must be wrong with those "inferior" people.
The lack of a moral code is what drives people to think too highly of themselves.
The virtue of "humility" is often not well seen by psychologists, life coaches and others, but it's necessary.
I've found out that people who believe in some sort of divinity (Christianity mostly) practice more empathy than others.
The media wants to induce us to get the best cars, the best houses, and to thrive for money and power. Heck when the damn Kardashians are the inspiration for young girls and women. When Miley Cyrus is the favorite artist among girls...you know something's wrong.
As someone said earlier, the culture of the "selfie", men and women "showing off" on social media, that's a sign people just wanna live empty lives.
I agree with the OP and the other posters. We live in a self indulgent, me, me, I, I, world.
My father always loved taking pictures, when the Polaroid camera came out, he was in heaven, instant memories...the difference is he generally only took pictures on special occasions or on a vacation, not every ten minutes and certainly not of himself.
Recently I was at the Hard Rock, went to the ladies room, got myself in a stall, and then I hear click, being nosey, I just stood there, when I hear the next door open, I opened mine and step out...out comes a young girl maybe 21, she had just taken a selfie in the stall, probably sitting on the pot..Good Grief! She headed out the door, never bothered to wash her hands, Yuck, that's another rant...anyway I went back in my stall and as they say "The rest is history".
Man, I can't speak for the world in general, but it seems to me we have more cry babies, cupcakes, softer individuals, then ever before. The people today need "everything" got have it now attitudes, over complicated, high maintenance, heavy drama, in a hurry to get there that just makes laugh aloud because these people for the most part are better educated, smarter, and with a good plan, they can have their career paths lined out and have it made with a little patience down the road, yet, their still simple stupid, spoiled little brats, that have no sense of core values or leadership because all they care about is themselves. Some one said, me first attitude and their right on with that assessment, I will say this, all is not lost, because there are young people out there under 40 years old who are the "Rare Breed" the ones who make the cut.
The young men and woman who run into the chaos, when everyone else is busy running away. The ones who are not afraid to go back to lend a helping hand, the ones who place others ahead of themselves, as for living with less, I can dig it, less sometimes is better for me, I can go without, I have before, I still haven't bought that boat I always wanted, been saving the last twenty years, lol. I still haven't bought that charger I always wanted, I still haven't gone to Europe, but, I am happy in my skin and grateful for my family and friends, and I can have anything that I want, I take greater pleasure in the fact, that I buy for others, and sometimes..
I treat myself a little bit, lol. So there it is..
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