Why Is Narcissism On The Rise?
Narcissism has become a more significant topic of conversation, in which more and more people can identify its common behavioural signs and traits across all types of people, whether it be colleagues, political leaders, or even family members. As a result of this, society is beginning to question whether there is a rise in narcissism and why this is happening.
In some essence, showing signs of narcissism is healthy as it presents a confident character and typically is one to boast about their achievements and downplay any weaknesses. Having such traits can define our individuality, personality and accomplishments in life; however, in excess, being a narcissist can result in narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).
What Is Narcissism?
Narcissism is defined as the behavioural, social and communication characteristics of narcissists. It is a mental health condition, which means people have an unreasonably high sense of their importance. They thrive by seeking attention and admiration from those around them. People with this type of disorder may lack empathy through masking extreme confidence and, in fact, are very insecure and hyper-sensitive to the slightest criticism.
The Signs Of Narcissism
Five everyday habits are associated with being a narcissist and include:
Grandiosity
Entitlement
Attention-Seeking
Manipulation
Lack of Empathy
Seeking professional help for diagnosis and treatment is recommended, in which therapy can help uncover any underlying insecurities, develop healthier coping mechanisms and encourage empathy.
Is Society Becoming More Narcissistic?
With social media being on the rise, it has become harder to identify the narcissists around us. Social media has essentially reshaped the way we think and perceive life. The addictive nature of social media can perpetuate a vicious cycle of people seeking constant validation of their appearance from others, leading to a shallow sense of self and increased narcissistic tendencies. Another psychological explanation for the growing trend of narcissism lies in the cultural shifts toward individualism and self-expression.
According to a recent study, up to 5% of people have a narcissistic personality disorder. While many people suffer from narcissistic traits, people need to be diagnosed by a licensed professional.
Which Gender Is The Most Narcissistic?
Around 75% of people who are diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorders are men. The results of the study showed that men scored higher when it comes to the following traits:
Lack of Empathy: 83% male vs 72% female
Sense of Entitlement: 83% male vs 77% female
Exploitation: 66% male vs 56% female
However, statistics also showed the traits in which women ranked higher than men:
Envy: 73% male vs 78% women
Arrogance: 36% male vs 42% female
Conclusion
In summary, more people are talking about narcissism, wondering why it's on the rise. Some narcissistic traits can be okay, but too much might lead to a problem. It is essential to speak up about it and correctly identify it. It's important to know signs like thinking you're better than others and not understanding how others feel. Social media makes it hard to spot these signs.
If you or someone you know has these traits, getting help is a good idea; don't hesitate to contact me to understand and care for yourself.