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
SMU first-year David Speedlin said he has seen friends do community service simply to put it on a resume for graduate school. He has also witnessed fraternity members backstabbing their own brothers to benefit themselves. One time a frat brother told a false rumor to a girl about another brother only so she would break up with him.
"People look out for No. 1 all the time at this school," said Speedlin. "I wonder if it is the same at all college campuses."
A recent study shows that college students are becoming more narcissistic than previous generations. This narcissism can be attributed to a variety of causes.
Dr. Michael Crow has been a lecturer in social psychology at SMU for six years and believes that the rise in narcissism among college students could stem from the way parents raise their children. He said that parents seem to be substantially more permissive or indulgent than years ago.
Crow also said that the movement to enhance children's self-esteem could play a role in the rise of narcissism among the college-age group. Children are told that they can do anything they want and that they are the best and greatest in an effort to bolster their self-esteem.
Crow said that this type of self-esteem is temporary due to the fact that it is bestowed upon the child rather than earned.
"If an individual earns self-esteem through hard work and accomplishments, that self-esteem will likely hold up when the individual faces difficulties," Crow said.
SMU first-year Rachel Carey said that the rise in narcissism in college students is occurring because of the nature of their upbringing.
"I definitely think that self-centeredness has increased in our generation," Carey said. "People in our generation did not work as hard for things; they were just sort of given to us."
Five psychologists conducted this comprehensive study by examining the responses of 16,475 college students nationwide who completed an evaluation called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. They gave the studies between 1982 and 2006.
"People look out for No. 1 all the time at this school," said Speedlin. "I wonder if it is the same at all college campuses."
A recent study shows that college students are becoming more narcissistic than previous generations. This narcissism can be attributed to a variety of causes.
Dr. Michael Crow has been a lecturer in social psychology at SMU for six years and believes that the rise in narcissism among college students could stem from the way parents raise their children. He said that parents seem to be substantially more permissive or indulgent than years ago.
Crow also said that the movement to enhance children's self-esteem could play a role in the rise of narcissism among the college-age group. Children are told that they can do anything they want and that they are the best and greatest in an effort to bolster their self-esteem.
Crow said that this type of self-esteem is temporary due to the fact that it is bestowed upon the child rather than earned.
"If an individual earns self-esteem through hard work and accomplishments, that self-esteem will likely hold up when the individual faces difficulties," Crow said.
SMU first-year Rachel Carey said that the rise in narcissism in college students is occurring because of the nature of their upbringing.
"I definitely think that self-centeredness has increased in our generation," Carey said. "People in our generation did not work as hard for things; they were just sort of given to us."
Five psychologists conducted this comprehensive study by examining the responses of 16,475 college students nationwide who completed an evaluation called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. They gave the studies between 1982 and 2006.
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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