Reply To: Selfies and Narcissism

I’ve read up a lot about this and well, I guess the number of people who are narcissistic are increasing. However, I have not found any sources saying that this increase has anything to do with young adults as individuals. Rather, it is (and here I quote) “the ‘now or never’, ‘we only live once’ ‘promote yourself’ marketing because you are the most important person in the world, or you can be if you do what everyone else is doing’. Blow your ego up or else you will be blown away, ignored by everyone.”

Also, “Lets not forget today’s parents who are raising children whose every whim must be obeyed and catered to. Our culture is saying to kids and young adults ‘be a narcissist’. Some hear the siren song and obey, and a few try to be wiser and resist. But in the tide of people rushing to follow the mass media’s sucking of everyone down the ‘rabbit hole’ or narcissism, who can resist the flood?”

However I also came across this study that says: “All great societies and civilizations passed through a similar stage of narcissism on their way to depravity and total collapse. All our technology and wealth of wisdom won’t stop us from being equally stupid. Humans are vain and can’t pass a mirror without admiring themselves. Enjoy the ride—it’s all downhill.”

A bit depressing but it sort of proves my point that it’s not only in this generation. It has happened before due to various factors. And just saying, I didn’t find anywhere that the increase in selfies is linked to narcissism. So this whole Aish article was literally making a mountain out of a molehill, which was why I started this thread. With that I rest my case.