Me Generation Gap

If you thought the “Me” generation was self-indulgent, their offspring are even more so, according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor.

According to a new study by five psychologists, self-centeredness and narcissism are alive and well among today’s college students. “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.”

Results of an evaluation called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) conducted from 1982 through 2006 asked 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 psychologists concluded that their research of more than 16,000 college students showed that NPI scores rose steadily throughout the test period, which went from 1982 through 2006.

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.”

Researchers traced this phenomenon back to the permissiveness of the 1980s “self-esteem” movement , “asserting that the effort to build self-confidence had gone too far.”

As an example, Professor 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.”

Although narcissism can result in negative consequences for society, including the breakdown of close relationships, study co-author Dr. W. Keith Campbell suggested it could be useful in meeting new people “or auditioning on ‘American Idol.'”

Deborah Lambert writes the Squeaky Chalk column for AIA’s Campus Report newsletter.