Inflated self-worth and a sense of entitlement have become pervasive in American youth (Twenge and Campbell 2009). Singers, actors, and other celebrities often express a highly exaggerated self-image, which may be perceived by youth as expected and desirable. The cult of celebrity can harm teenagers as they grow up in a world where being rich and famous is viewed as the highest achievement (Burgo 2015)—particularly when their parents expect them to be social winners. Celebrity worship encourages teens’ inherent narcissistic tendencies, offering an escape from their own shortcomings and, possibly, their own sense of shame. They come to associate fame with happiness and become convinced that those with talent, or perceived talent, will achieve success. Yet, narcissists are incapable of attaining and maintaining high professional goals unless they are focused, determined, hardworking, and gifted with charm.
Narcissism continues to be studied in a variety of contexts, including clinical psychology, organizational and social psychology, and corporate management. The exponential number of articles published since 1980 in scholarly journals on the topic of personality disorders and their impact in the workplace reveals the increasing interest and prominence of study in this field.
Table 1.1 shows the increase of research articles published in all medical journals combined from 1980 forward. In the past 36 years, articles related to the topic of narcissism increased by 75%, while those related to bullying show an increase of 1384%.
Table 1.1
Google scholar publications by search term (Search results as of September 25, 2016)
Years of publication | Search term | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Psychopathy | Narcissism | Personality disorder | Bullying | |
1980–1989 | 2930 | 14,000 | 48,300 | 5840 |
1990–1999 | 5460 | 23,100 | 140,000 | 16,500 |
2000–2009 | 15,300 | 30,900 | 799,000 | 95,400 |
2010–Sept 2016 | 17,000 | 24,500 | 320,000 | 86,700 |
Percentage increase 1980–2016 | 480% | 75% | 562% | 1384% |
Table 1.2 demonstrates a 101,000% increase in the number of research articles during that same 36-year period through the search engine MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, or MEDLARS Online), a bibliographic database of life sciences and biomedical information.
Table 1.2
MEDLINE publications by search term (Search results as of October 3, 2016)
Years of publication | Search term | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Psychopathy | Narcissism | Personality disorder | Bullying | |
1980–1989 | 145 | 705 | 9059 | 3 |
1990–1999 | 217 | 468 | 17,493 | 101 |
2000–2009 | 760 | 484 | 20,762 | 858 |
2010–Sept 2016 | 1128 | 641 | 15,876 | 3033 |
Percentage increase 1980–2016 | 678% | −9% | 75% | 101,000% |
Table 1.3 shows the number of articles published in the abstract and index database ProQuest, which provides sources for researchers. From 1980 forward, the number of sources related to narcissism , specifically, has increased by 2406% and for the search term “personality disorders” by 3030%.
Table 1.3
ProQuest publications by search term (Search results as of September 25, 2016)
Years of publication | Search term | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Psychopathy and workplace and employee | Narcissism and workplace and employee | Personality disorder and workplace and employee | Bullying and workplace and employee | |
1980–1989 | 10 | 126 | 476 | 428 |
1990–1999 | 71 | 859 | 5223 | 5021 |
2000–2009 | 650 | 2830 | 18,341 | 28,817 |
2010–Sept 2016 | 691 | 3158 | 14,900 | 46,309 |
Percentage increase 1980–2016 | 6810% | 2406% | 3030% | 10,719% |
This sharp increase in scholarly articles focused on narcissism mirrors the well-documented development of this personality disorder in Western cultures. Some have labeled narcissism a “modern epidemic,” pointing to the rapid change in society that occurred in industrial and post-industrial times as the cause (The Conversation 2016). The past three decades have witnessed a societal shift from a commitment to the collective to a focus on the individual or the self. The self-esteem movement was an important turning point in this. It determined that self-esteem was the key to success in life. Educators and parents began telling each child how special and unique he or she is, in order to make each feel more confident. Educators and parents moved to “confer” self-esteem upon their children, rather than letting them achieve it through hard work.
The rise of individualism (with its focus on the self and one’s inner feelings) and the decline in social norms that accompanied the modernization of society mean that the community and the family are no longer able to provide the same support for individuals as they once did. Research has shown that being embedded in social networks—such as being actively engaged in your community and connected with friends and family—has major health benefits.
As the social fabric deteriorated, it became much harder to meet the basic need for meaningful connection. The question moved from “what is best for others” to “what is best for me.” The modernization of society seemingly prizes fame, wealth, and celebrity above all else. All this, combined with the breakdown in social ties created an “empty self, shorn of social meaning.”
In addition, the increased use of social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, is further changing the way free time is spent and communication with others is pursued. Today, there are nearly 1.13 billion daily active Facebook users worldwide. Internet addiction is a new area of study in mental health, and recent cross-sectional research shows that addiction to Facebook is strongly linked to narcissistic behavior and low self-esteem (Malik and Khan 2015).
While narcissism among young people is better researched, the impact narcissistic individuals have on a corporate organization, in general, and on their colleagues, ...