Are Today's Students Too Self-Centered?

Study Finds Rising Narcissism, Fears It Could Hurt Personal Relationships, Society

(AP)  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."

Twenge and her colleagues, in findings to be presented at a workshop Tuesday in San Diego on the generation gap, examined the responses of 16,475 college students nationwide who completed an evaluation called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory between 1982 and 2006.

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."

The researchers describe their study as the largest ever of its type and say students' NPI scores have risen steadily since the current test was introduced in 1982. By 2006, they said, two-thirds of the students had above-average scores, 30 percent more than in 1982.

Narcissism can have benefits, said study co-author W. Keith Campbell of the University of Georgia, suggesting it could be useful in meeting new people "or auditioning on 'American Idol.' "

"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 exhibit game-playing, dishonesty, and over-controlling and violent behaviors."

Twenge, the author of "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — and More Miserable Than Ever Before," said narcissists tend to lack empathy, react aggressively to criticism and favor self-promotion over helping others.

The researchers traced the phenomenon back to what they called the "self-esteem movement" that emerged in the 1980s, asserting that the effort to build self-confidence had gone too far.

As an example, Twenge cited a song commonly sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques" in preschool: "I am special, I am special. Look at me."

"Current technology fuels the increase in narcissism," Twenge said. "By its very name, MySpace encourages attention-seeking, as does YouTube."

Some analysts have commended today's young people for increased commitment to volunteer work. But Twenge viewed even this phenomenon skeptically, noting that many high schools require community service and many youths feel pressure to list such endeavors on college applications.

Campbell said the narcissism upsurge seemed so pronounced that he was unsure if there were obvious remedies.

"Permissiveness seems to be a component," he said. "A potential antidote would be more authoritative parenting. Less indulgence might be called for."

The new report follows a study released by UCLA last month which found that nearly three-quarters of the freshmen it surveyed thought it was important to be "very well-off financially." That compared with 62.5 percent who said the same in 1980 and 42 percent in 1966.

Yet students, while acknowledging some legitimacy to such findings, don't necessarily accept negative generalizations about their generation.

Hanady Kader, a University of Washington senior, said she worked unpaid last summer helping resettle refugees and considers many of her peers to be civic-minded. But she is dismayed by the competitiveness of some students who seem prematurely focused on career status.

"We're encouraged a lot to be individuals and go out there and do what you want, and nobody should stand in your way," Kader said. "I can see goals and ambitions getting in the way of other things like relationships."

Kari Dalane, a University of Vermont sophomore, says most of her contemporaries are politically active and not overly self-centered.

"People are worried about themselves — but in the sense of where are they're going to find a place in the world," she said. "People want to look their best, have a good time, but it doesn't mean they're not concerned about the rest of the world."

Besides, some of the responses on the narcissism test might not be worrisome, Dalane said. "It would be more depressing if people answered, 'No, I'm not special.'"

[anopinion1]

I sure hope noone paid these idiots to perform this survey..........
complete waste of time again..
just as most statisticians are ...complete garbage..

[us_infidel]

Nah, only about 98% of them. But so were we 20 years ago. The only big difference I see is that they are more openly wild these days.

[smb221]

Everyone already knows that most kids around that age are self-centered little brats!

[mgpm-2009]

Their parents were the freewheeling hippies...anything goes, free love, ***, drugs and rock and roll, people. Actually their grand parents were the hippies. So this is the third generation... You know what they are missing? The word NO. They are also missing the G-O-D of it all. They careen through life without any guidelines...I'm the living end, I'm most important, my needs are paramount...yadda yadda. Um...no, they aren't. God first, others second, me third. Unheard of for todays teen-young adult-child. Nothing wrong with being told you are special. You are....but don't forget to tell them that everyone else is just as special. God doesn't make any junk. No one is a throw-away no matter how they look.

[lookuphigher]

The best way to teach children is by example. Since we are so busy working, very few take time to show children how to care about other people so they only know to look out for themselves. "They don't know, what they don't know". Shame on my parents generation for not demonstrating to our generation to pass caring to this new generation. Break the cycle.. Set a good example. Put country and others before self. I did, I have a great college kid.

[mnelsonix]

Give 'em all trophies. Play sports with no winners. You're all winners. Holy ***!

[timseanc]

The parents of today's high school and undergraduate college students are by and large not "hippies", but rather those born between 1958 and 1970. The "hippies" were more likely those who were born between 1945 and 1953.

But I agree with the authors' criticism of the effects of over-emphasis on self-esteem as it relates to preschool/elementary aged children.

[olebd]

In my son's elementary school, they have an award program sponsored by the Kiwanis every month. Eventually, every student gets this award so, there's nothing they have to do to get it. There's also awards every quarter for perfect attendance, all a's, all a's and b's and a separate award for those who bring up their grades. I would say this is a bit much. Kids today don't know the feeling of being disappointed.

My niece has a car that is newer than mine. Her gas, insurance, taxes, maintenance are paid by her parents. She also has a laptop, a cell phone, etc., etc. all provided to her. She's taking a class trip to Italy this spring and will start college this fall. Never had a job, everything is provided. I expect she'll marry rich and keep it going without ever knowing what it's like to work, to earn, to save, to really have to do without.

The bottom has to fall out for all of us here soon....a rude awakening is around the corner.

[luvny-2009]

SOME Kids are spoiled rotten. They get a toy every time they go to the store or mommy cooks exactly what jr or princess wants to eat. Mommy and Daddy will pay for everything they need or want including cars, college and spending money oh and all the clothes they want too and ya know what the sad part is, it's a cycle because most of these kids start off without a bill to their name that they in turn have all kinds of money and do the same to their kids.

[oleander8]

It is "important to be well-off financially" - those are the only kids that can afford college. And of course some students "seem prematurely focused on career status" - those student loan payments kick in 6 months after you are out of school.

[sy2502]

I was still in college in 2001 and went to classes on Sept 11th. The students were all panicking, but not because of the attack, rather because Napster was being shut down. It was sickening.

[michellem99-2009]

I have to say YES. The kids are in their own little world. I am in my 50s. I like my computer and it gives
freedom to share. In my day it was different as I grew in small towns. I was not allowed to be seft-centred even as a special needs person. I feel the kids are not taught right in the home growing up. I am shcoked at the rudeness of the kids and their Mum/Dad thinks it's cool. No I never had kids but I know manners are needed. I could not have this/that just because I asked. I grew up poor. I like well mannered persons. I wore hand me downs . We were to be nice to each other.

[yoopermom]

I hate to see such a generalization for todays students. My oldest son is 17 and he has been working for over two years now. His first car was a birthday gift. Nothing fancy, it was 10 years old at the time. He now has a car that he is buying on his own. I have co-signed the loan for him, but he has never made me regret it. He is an honor roll student and is going to collage this fall. He knows that he will be paying for this mostly on his own.

My 15 year old son is currently working part time and saving money. He also knows that he has to work for certain things.

Most of their friends are in the same situation. They know that their parents are not required to provide cars, cell phones, ipods, ect. They work for what they want. So to say that they are all a money hungry me, me, me society is not correct.

[extremophil]

Since when were college students NOT narcissistic? Nobody could tell me anything when I was in college 20 years ago.

[anopinion1]

I was still in college in 2001 and went to classes on Sept 11th. The students were all panicking, but not because of the attack, rather because Napster was being shut down. It was sickening.
Posted by sy2502 at 12:56 PM : Feb 27, 2007

it was a sad day when the original napster went down man............. we had to use kaazza then !!!
yea ???? they both got us the same damm thing and kaazaa had videos.

*** are you talking about dude.


to answer another thing. If we dont look out for ourselves then who will??? parents who most likely wanted them outta the house when you turned 18????
friends you just met 2 weeks ago at a dorm party??
unless you have friends from high school their with you, you are on your own, for awhile....

[anopinion1]

The new report follows a study released by UCLA last month which found that nearly three-quarters of the freshmen it surveyed thought it was important to be "very well-off financially." That compared with 62.5 percent who said the same in 1980 and 42 percent in 1966.

duhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
blabla people go to college to get a job doing "what they love to do"....... in a perfect world yea but most people, me included, would love to do nothing all day, have no job, hang out with family and friends all day every day......

[anopinion1]

people go to college now to get paid more money doing a job that they think they wont get completely sick of in a few year...........

and to get out of the resturant and other menial business getting peanuts thrown at you.......

[ecuadoriana]

Of course kids (& not just college kids) today are self-centered.

A typical introduction when meeting a mom & her little pieces of work for the first time at the playground:

"Hi there! I'm Cronic Fatigue Syndrome with Fibromyalgia Tendancies and this is my son ADHD, & my daughter Several Food Allergies bordering on a Full Blown Eating Disorder. We'd love to join in the fun & games on the playground, but poor little ADHD here suffers from Out of Breath When Engaging in any Activity that Reaquires Movement. He's been put on a strict no chores or homework diet. Precious Food Allergies breaks out in Acute Tantrum When Asked to Share. My husband, Arthritic Back & Knee Condition, will be joining us after he returns from teeing off. It seems to be the only thing that helps alieve his Bigger TV Than the Neighbours Have which has been plaguing him for quite some time. Oh, sorry, can't talk now. Gotta run, it's an emergency. Little ADHD needs a new video game right now or else he'll never get to sleep tonight. Ta ta!"

[oleander8]

It's the day-care generation all grown up. People don't raise their own kids anymore.

[olebd]

Since college, I've had the dream of becoming a professional lottery winner. 20 years later, I still haven't achieved my dream.

[mitywhity]

We have produced a generation that will have us all euthanized at the first sign of weakness. They are ripe for a Hitler-like figure to tell them how superior they are. They'll fall for it easily. Why do you think that time-honored ideals are crumbling at the feet of rapid-fire attack - one after another the cornerstones of this country are being chipped away. These kids are the refined product of the 60's generation thinking. Guess what? These kids are going to reproduce and create an even more useless generation.

[sy2502]

It was a sad day when the original napster went down man............. we had to use kaazza then !!!
yea ???? they both got us the same damm thing and kaazaa had videos.

*** are you talking about dude.

I am talking about the fact that when 3,000 people died, all that many college students would think about was that they couldn't download their music for free anymore. Does that sound normal to you?

[freezulu]

People can become narcissistic from two very different ways: growing-up "spoiled and special" or growing-up "neglected and abused". Either way, they never learn empathy.
Because they're so self-centered, they're incapable of maintaining healthy close relationships. (search the net for more info about narcissism - there's lots of helpful info out there)

[bellal-2009]

It's the day-care generation all grown up. People don't raise their own kids anymore.

Posted by oleander8 at 05:25 PM : Feb 27, 2007


I was just about to write this exact thought, then saw this post. Absolutely right.

[ashwea-2009]

In my opinion, it's been that way since my senior year of high school which was 1993, And it has only gotten worse. It really has! I think alot of high school sophmores and up confuse personal strength with doing whatever everyone else does and other factors in being "popular". Also, I strongly feel it all dates back to what kind of decipline they were given when they were toddlers. I totally agree that it will affect social situations and other things as they progress through life.