Narcissism, a complex psychological phenomenon that is poorly understood. Research began to discover its impact on people’s work, health and relationships.
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Editor’s note: One of the longest-running researches on narcissism has been published recently. Some of the findings may subvert our impressions: for example, 1) the older the more narcissistic; 2) the selfish and arrogant person is easier to assume the management role; 3) the vain person is younger and the interpersonal relationship is more unstable In middle age, it is more likely to divorce; 4) narcissistic men are more likely to suffer health risks than narcissistic women; 5) having children is better vanity than no children, and falling in love is better than not talking about vanity; 6) People with the strongest sense of privilege tend to have lower levels of happiness and satisfaction with life in middle age. For these conclusions, do you have a big question mark in your heart? Are you narcissistic? What do you know about narcissism? If you don’t know, take a look at this narcissism entry, originally published on Medium, by Robert Roy Britt, titled Narcissism 101.
Only narcissists can claim to fully understand narcissism. This is one of the most complex and diametrically opposed human characteristics: it can both create a leader and destroy a relationship. Some self-righteous psychologists put the word on relatives and friends and even the current US president. Researchers in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology two years ago pointed out that despite the “exponential growth in scientific attention in recent years, narcissistic personality still stubbornly plagued psychologists trying to understand it, and has been Troubled by clinicians trying to treat their pathological manifestations.”
How the narcissistic tendencies of youth affect future life, work, relationships, and well-being, and how the “self-portrait” is labeled as a narcissist, the latest research allows us to take a look at the leopard. In order to understand all of this, it is helpful to introduce some introductory knowledge about narcissism.
Narcissism is named after a Greek mythology character (Nasisos, narcissus) who fell in love with his reflection. It is a series of personality.The general term for traits is characterized by over-emphasis on self and lack of compassion. It is very important to pay attention. Ironically, in the most extreme cases, fragile self-esteem can undermine professional and interpersonal relationships. Extreme narcissists can be people who think they know everything. Joseph Burgo, author of The Narcissist You Know, explains that they may bully, blame and humiliate others and refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes. They may still hate. Burgo said: “Extreme narcissism always needs to prove that you are the ‘winner’ compared to others who they see as ‘losers’.”
But there are a lot of shadows. Eunike Wetzel, a professor of psychology at Otto von Guericke University in Germany, said: “People’s narcissism varies from high to low,” he said. Moreover, there are three main aspects of narcissism. Each person has different levels of narcissism in these three aspects, and the impact is also good or bad. The three main aspects are:
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Leadership: Extroverted, self-respecting, strong attachment to goals, eager to lead others. For its part, this can be a very healthy trait, especially in work and social situations.
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Vanity: I’m overly proud of my appearance and accomplishment, I want to be the focus of attention, and I’m imagining the success with great success.
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Privacy: This is a bad tendency in interpersonal relationships, often disagreeing with others and demeaning others, making them private, feeling superior, and extremely in need of praise And affirmative pieces. Worst of all, this is the ugliest aspect of narcissism.
The older the more mature?
In a new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Wetzel and his colleagues surveyed college freshmen and followed up on developments for the next 23 years. The narcissistic personality of 237 students at the University of California at Berkeley was studied. For most of them, their narcissism will decline as they mature.
Wetzel said that although there are still a few people who are still narcissistic after ageing with age, “only 3% of the respondents’ overall level of narcissism between the ages of 18 and 41 has increased.”
The study found that narcissistic young people are more likely to be in management work in the end, thesis co-author, Professor of Organizational Behavior at University of Washington, EmilyGrijalva said: “This shows that selfish people get rewards for more powerful organizational roles.”
At the same time, the researchers found that young adults with the highest degree of vanity are more likely to have unstable relationships and are more likely to divorce in middle age.
The vanity of those who have no children is reduced by about 25% compared to those who have children, and the vanity of those who do not seriously fall in love is reduced by a third. The researchers speculate that people who feel that they have failed in marriage and childbirth may be more concerned about themselves as they get older than those who are married to have children. This may mean that they will follow better eating habits and exercise more, which may explain why the most vain person will report that they are healthier, at least in terms of the overall health of the body.
Finally, those who have the strongest sense of privilege at the age of 18 tend to have lower overall happiness and satisfaction with life in middle age.
Erin Hill, an associate professor of psychology at Westchester University, said: “This type of longitudinal research is important for understanding life-related outcomes related to narcissism.”
How does narcissism affect personal health?
Hill hasn’t finalized how narcissism relates to any long-term health, but research shows that narcissism can bring benefits, says Hill: “For example, “self-esteem is stronger, which in turn is total.” It is also good for mental health.” Narcissists may be more willing to exercise, but overconfident, feel that they are invulnerable, and a strong desire for rewards, which are related to more risky financial decisions and material use, and all These will have a negative impact on relationships and work life.
In addition to the psychological burden of relationships, narcissists may have to pay a high price for their physical health.
At the same time, narcissistic men may be more likely to experience adverse health consequences than narcissistic women.
A 2012 study compared the narcissistic traits of 106 college students with the levels of cortisol (a stress hormone). Long-term high levels of cortisol indicate elevated psychological stress, which is associated with higher risk of depression, heart disease and memory disorders, as well as other diseases. Researchers report in PLOS One that unhealthy narcissism, such as privilege, is more than twice as likely as men’s cortisol levels, and there is evidence that men’s cortisol levels are higher. Chronic performance, not just due to short-term stress.
The co-author of the study, University of Michigan psychologist Sara Konrath said: “In addition to the psychological cost of making their relationship, men narcissismIt may also cost them a lot of good health.
Konrath warns that as long as research needs to be self-reported, narcissists will look better and stronger than others, which can lead to distortion of results. As for the long-term impact on health, as she and her colleagues wrote in a paper on this topic, little is known about it, in part because most of the research on narcissism is mainly young people. However, their research has taken the most unhealthy forms of narcissism (including privilege, love, and full use) and depressive symptoms by comparing them with leadership-related healthy narcissistic traits (including authority and conceit). Increases are associated with poor sleep quality.
She calls the new study to discover that life experiences can change a person’s narcissism as “interesting and valuable,” but she also points out that the study has fewer participants, and income and education. Higher levels do not represent the entire US population.
The narcissism is not as common as you think it is
Anyone can do a 40-question narcissistic personality survey, which researchers often use to measure narcissistic traits. However, Wetzel said that getting a high score on a test doesn’t necessarily mean a clinical illness. Wetzel’s research focuses on common narcissistic features rather than narcissistic personality disorders in clinical diagnosis. Diagnosis of the disease needs to be assessed separately by a psychologist or psychiatrist if someone wants to seek treatment.
Scientists don’t even know what causes people to have a narcissistic tendency. However, it is more useful to think of narcissism as a series of manifestations from absolute selflessness to total arrogance. Craig Malkin, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School and author of Rethinking Narcissism, believes that everyone belongs to this range. According to this view, it is healthy to be a little self-centered, but like any personality trait, once it is extreme, it becomes sick.
Trigger and cause may include genetics, special brain connections, and childhood events, so the list of possibilities is almost inexhaustible: childhood traumatic experiences, parental conditional love, only rewards high achievement, The narcissistic parents have unrealistic expectations for the children, and the parents have over-extended their own “Golden Boys”.
A decade ago, a study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. According to this frequently cited study, 7.7% of men and 4.8% of women in the United States have narcissistic personality disorder. The study conducted two face-to-face surveys of more than 30,000 people in three years.
Some studies conducted since then show that narcissism is increasing. But these studies are often based on small, self-reported surveys rather than clinical diagnoses, and often rely on blame for self-portrait generations (including nowThe millennial generation, aged 23 to 38, and the Z generation, under the age of 22, are sometimes referred to as millennials to take advantage of public opinion.
Brent Roberts, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois, said that this is not true at all. He conducted this new study with Wetzel and Grijalva. After an independent study of data from thousands of college students, Roberts and Wetzel concluded that, in fact, their narcissism was less than that of college students in the 1990s.
But the awareness has not decreased, even among young people.
Earlier this year, another research team surveyed college students and adults of all ages. The survey found that although the study showed that the younger generation is no more narcissistic than the previous generations, the students believe that “youth and peers are indeed particularly narcissistic and have a strong sense of privilege”, but this label They feel “somewhat annoyed.” Joshua Grubbs, head of research at Bowling Green State University, said: “Every generation thinks that the youngest generation…is the most narcissistic and privileged generation.” “But Millennials and Generation Z are not I like this trait and don’t believe this trait like previous generations.”
Papping a flattery will make you want to behave
The author of “Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Surviving a Relationship with a Narcissist”, Ramani Durvasula, professor of psychology at California State University in Los Angeles, says no matter how narcissism is defined or not. What is it, it is “a buzzword of our time. This is really misunderstood. The narcissist is usually the most insecure person in the house, but they have learned how to not show it.”< /p>
Durvasula explains in a podcast of the American Psychological Society: “The narcissist will deceive you with wit and charisma, but behind the surface is the lack of empathy and compassion, and the tendency to deceive people.” This leads them to be tricky romantic companions.
Grijalva, co-author of the new study, said that anyone who has worked knows that these issues will also extend to the workplace. Given their sensitive self-esteem, narcissists can easily feel threatened and aggressive. They are generally selfish and not willing to act in the best interests of their group or organization.
Grijalva found that in previous studies, when narcissists became leaders, their worst qualities were manifested, such as “using others, arrogance, and even arbitrariness,” thereby weakening their effectiveness.
GrijaLva said: “In the workplace, I am very cautious about publicly opposing or making these people feel embarrassed. I also found that flattery is more effective for narcissists. If I suspect that someone may be more narcissistic, then I will try to let They participate in decision making and believe that something is their idea.”
Translator: boxi.