There is a problem that seems to be the net result of self-esteem being propagated in our schools and other social settings that is out of control. Is it leading to a generation of narcissists?
A definition of a narcissist is: “A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and subconscious deficits in self-esteem.”
Narcissism—an inflated view of the self—is everywhere. Public figures say it’s what makes them stray from their wives. Parents teach it by dressing children in T-shirts that say “Princess.” Teenagers and young adults hone it on Facebook, and celebrity newsmakers have elevated it to an art form. And it’s what’s making people depressed, lonely, and buried under piles of debt.
Dr. Jean Twenge focuses on the pernicious spread of narcissism in today’s culture, which has repercussions for every age group and class. Dr. Twenge joins forces with W. Keith Campbell, Ph.D., a nationally recognized expert on narcissism, to explore this new plague in “The Narcissism Epidemic,” their eye-opening exposition of the alarming rise of narcissism and its catastrophic effects at every level of society.
Some have attached this label to President Barack Obama and leaders from both parties in Congress.
“Even the world economy has been damaged by risky, unrealistic overconfidence. Drawing on their own extensive research as well as decades of other experts’ studies,” Drs. Twenge and Campbell suggest.
Twenge’s definition and observing the behaviors of our national and, even some state and local officials, would seem to put a finger on some of the problems that were once considered routine. For example, the president seems bent on creating a major issue out of raising the nation’s debt ceiling. Rather than negotiate in good faith with congressional leaders, he has taken the approach of the Clint Eastwood character Dirty Harry, by suggesting that Congress “Make my day!”
Of course on the other side of the political aisle we have a Speaker of the House who is motivated by his own ego, stating that he’s willing to let the nation default on its financial debt rather than give into reasonable proposals from the Senate or the White House. Therein lies the problem, however: Nothing in Washington seems to be based in reason or common sense.
“While Nero fiddled (in this case President Obama)Rome (i.e. Washington, D.C.) burned.”
This recent confrontation in D.C. is a high priced game of chicken being played by 537 narcissists elected by “we the people.”
Is there no end to this kind of insanity?
Keith Hansen
Comments (14)
Add commentWho wrote the headline on this opinion piece?
"Humanism breeds a generation of narcissists with huge deficits" is the headline, yet humanism is not mentioned in the article and is not even germane to the topic.
You tell them Keith Hansen , and all those radicals @ PBS
Still create propaganda to poison the minds of todays youth with that radical purple dinosaur & Big Bird.
Reason & Common Sense are now controlled by folks who lobby for special interests that contribute $ to beholden lawmakers.
Thanks US Supreme Court ! Your help creating the phrase " obey us or we will primary you out" has really gone a long way to help foster working relationships in the country.
Once again, Mr Hansen
you and I agree, to the letter. I see little actually being done in DC but I hear a lot of rhetoric and chest thumping.
Typical of the entire bunch of self important and aggrandizing crew that manages to mess up our country more, every day, all the while telling us "what a great job they are doing!"
Noone will be less surprised when civil war breaks out and all of those self important people will be upset because they don't own guns! Or...do they?
You Are Known By The Company You Keep
Mr. Hansen you now have the support of someone like Perpetuity.
Congratulations, you are getting the support of the Brainerd/Baxter intelligentsia.
Keith, did you copy this column?
"Definition of plagiarism: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own; to use another's writing without crediting the source."
A simple check online found that 31 percent, or 148 words, of this editorial were just lifted from the Amazon description of the book you mentioned with no quotes surrounding the copied words or attribution given.
Is that the type of reporting we have grown to expect from this writer? Do we need to google his editorials from now on to see who actually wrote much of them?
Here’s the link to the “original” book description:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Narcissism-Epidemic-Living-Entitlement/dp/1416...
We deserve better for our money.
Perpetuity
The response you get, is what you would expect. It's not possible to get a logical perspective of what is happening to this country when, you can't see over the sides of the "Public Trough" you're sitting in.
Correct
Sadie, you nailed it! Have any of you heard about all of the "disconnects" that the city electric company has been doing? The Brainerd Public Utilities turns off electricity to over 60 apartments and houses every week, 20 years ago it was 4 or 5 a month, 8 if it was a bad month. In a town where 54% of the housing units are now rentals, is this a sign of the entitlement mentality that has our society in it's grasp? Not paying for your electricity because having a 4G phone, corn rolled hair, tattoos, piercings and meth is more important... what a mess. After it's shut off they go crying to LSS or the county, then it's reconnection fees and late payments that could have been avoided. Lets go over the cliff, I now yern for what's at the bottom of the canyon, a completely broke gov't without a penny to support ANY social programs, lets see who squeals first.
007 , Like a wise person on here once said , your upsetting the
Local Brain Trust.
You dont want to stampede the whole herd, its hard to round them up again.
Let the herd graze a while , they will doze off again dreaming of the good ol days .
When/if they awake they will ask themselves the question- What would Dubya Do ?
The standard universal answer used to be " Bring it on "
It's confirmed Cap
you are living on another planet.
Advise - stay in the wagon until the wheels fall off.
Ha Ha, Lil'Cappy
falls outa the jeep before the wheels fall off!
Thanks for pointing out the plagiarism, Southie.
And, in answer to your question, I actually do expect that kind of professionalism from Mr. Hansen. I suppose one could report it to the publisher, (you know, the boss who's so thrilled with his performance) so an official "hand-slapping" might occur, but I doubt if the book's authors mind the publicity, plagiarism or not.
More importantly, though, I've come to just expect Hansen to be the BDD "Troll in Chief". In fairness to him, that's why Morris hired him. "Trolling is a key part of the conservative entertainment/media business model," and Hansen is merely the writer in charge of stirring the pot. Mr. Hansen, if you ever read the comments following your "editorials" (for a good laugh!), you absolutely need to watch this perfect, albeit cynical, description of what your kind of troll does for a living. It's good entertainment, if nothing else. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuXGiV82tmg
Yumbo?
Mr yumbo gumbo,
You mean people actually get paid to write on this, here, blog?
SMTN
Aitkin
Good to keep in mind that Hansen
Good to keep in mind that Hansen probably isn't a mental-health professional.
Maybve he stayed at a Holiday Inn recently.