Spring Break
Narcissism on the rise nationwide, not just at SMU
Jonathan Dobin, Contributing Writer, jdobin@smu.edu
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News
The Narcissistic Personality Inventory is a standardized survey that asks for responses to statements like "If I ruled the world, it would be a better place," "I can live my life the way I want to" and "I am a special person."
The scores on this test have risen steadily since 1982, when the test was first introduced. In 1982, only 36 percent of the students who took the survey exhibited above-average scores, while in 2006 the number of students who showed above average scores rose to 66 percent. There was a 30 percent increase in narcissism among college students over the span of 24 years.
Crow has seen examples in the classroom while teaching at SMU where a student's self-centered attitude has made it hard for him to take responsibility for his own actions.
"I have had students come in late for an exam and be unable to finish during the remaining time. There have been occasions when they felt entitled to have as much time as it takes to finish," Crow said.
Senior psychology major John Legg said that he thinks there could be a higher level of narcissism amid the SMU population versus some of the other schools around the country.
"I believe that it is a bigger problem here because a higher-than-average proportion of students have lived extremely privileged lives and expect that to continue," Legg said.
The rise in narcissism among college students could be causing other problems dealing with social interaction as well.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Jean Twenge, said in a San Diego State University press release that people exhibiting high levels of narcissism tend to lack empathy for others, are aggressive when insulted, seek public glory and favor self-enhancement over helping others look good. Dr. Twenge also said that narcissists tend to be materialistic and try to seek fame and attention.
Current advances in technology could be fueling the problem, especially some of the new Web sites that have been cropping up over the Internet said Twenge.
The scores on this test have risen steadily since 1982, when the test was first introduced. In 1982, only 36 percent of the students who took the survey exhibited above-average scores, while in 2006 the number of students who showed above average scores rose to 66 percent. There was a 30 percent increase in narcissism among college students over the span of 24 years.
Crow has seen examples in the classroom while teaching at SMU where a student's self-centered attitude has made it hard for him to take responsibility for his own actions.
"I have had students come in late for an exam and be unable to finish during the remaining time. There have been occasions when they felt entitled to have as much time as it takes to finish," Crow said.
Senior psychology major John Legg said that he thinks there could be a higher level of narcissism amid the SMU population versus some of the other schools around the country.
"I believe that it is a bigger problem here because a higher-than-average proportion of students have lived extremely privileged lives and expect that to continue," Legg said.
The rise in narcissism among college students could be causing other problems dealing with social interaction as well.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Jean Twenge, said in a San Diego State University press release that people exhibiting high levels of narcissism tend to lack empathy for others, are aggressive when insulted, seek public glory and favor self-enhancement over helping others look good. Dr. Twenge also said that narcissists tend to be materialistic and try to seek fame and attention.
Current advances in technology could be fueling the problem, especially some of the new Web sites that have been cropping up over the Internet said Twenge.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
alison
posted 5/04/07 @ 2:04 AM CST
this headline is subtly genius. i hope whoever wrote it did it on purpose. i'll marry him/her whether or not that's true.
David
posted 5/06/07 @ 1:08 PM CST
I think I speak for everyone here when I say, "Duh."
Rita I. Cahill
posted 5/14/07 @ 7:09 PM CST
I have been a psychotherapist for the last 35 years (just retired)am 81 yrs old). Have counseled hundreds of teenagers. I have witnessed the
narcicissistic behavoir (personality disorder) and had to question myself
when I questioned this dianosis. (Continued…)
livpalm
posted 5/15/07 @ 2:20 PM CST
Frankly, narcissism is a problem as old as humanity. We've just learned to deal with it by coming up with new names. Egocentrism is humanities fall. Don't need no genious to discover that. (Continued…)
Sofia
posted 5/18/07 @ 12:46 PM CST
I would stop being a narcissist, but...
what's in it for me?
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