The author of Generation Me explores the spread of narcissism in today's culture and its catastrophic effects at every level of society.
Narcissism--an inflated view of the self--is everywhere.
Public figures say it's what makes them stray from their wives. Teenagers and young adults hone it on social media, and celebrity newsmakers have elevated it to an art form. And it's what's making people depressed, lonely, and buried under piles of debt.
Dr. Jean Twenge joins forces with W. Keith Campbell, PhD, a nationally recognized expert on narcissism, to explore this new plague in The Narcissism Epidemic. Even the world economy has been damaged by risky, unrealistic overconfidence. Drawing on their own extensive research as well as decades of other experts' studies, Twenge and Campbell show us how to identify narcissism, minimize the forces that sustain and transmit it, and treat it or manage it where we find it.
Filled with arresting, alarming, and even amusing stories of vanity gone off the tracks, The Narcissism Epidemic is at once a riveting window into the consequences of narcissism, a prescription to combat the widespread problems it causes, and a probing analysis of the culture at large.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: The Growing Narcissism in American Culture --
Section 1. The diagnosis
Chapter 1. The Many Wonders of Admiring Yourself
Chapter 2. The Disease of Excessive Self-Admiration and the Top Five Myths About Narcissism
Chapter 3. Isn't Narcissism Beneficial, Especially in a Competitive World?: Challenging Another Myth About Narcissism
Chapter 4. How Did We Get Here?: Origins of the Epidemic
Section 2. Root Causes of the Epidemic
Chapter 5. Parenting: Raising Royalty
Chapter 6. Superspreaders!: The Celebrity and Media Transmission of Narcissism
Chapter 7. Look at Me on MySpace: Web 2.0 and the Quest for Attention
Chapter 8. I Deserve the Best at 18% APR: Easy Credit and the Repeal of the Reality Principle
Section 3. Symptoms of Narcissism
Chapter 9. Hell Yeah, I'm Hot!: Vanity
Chapter 10. The Spending Explosion and its Impact on the Environment: Materialism
Chapter 11. Seven Billion Kinds of Special: Uniqueness
Chapter 12. The Quest for Infamy and the Rise of Incivility: Antisocial Behavior
Chapter 13. The Chocolate Cake Trap: Relationship Troubles
Chapter 14. All Play and No Work: Entitlement
Chapter 15. God Didn't Create You to Be Average: Religion and Volunteering
Section 4. Prognosis and Treatment
Chapter 16. The Prognosis: How Far, and for How Long, Will Narcissism Spread?
Chapter 17. Treating the Epidemic of Narcissism
Appendix: How Individuals Affect Culture, and Culture Affects Individuals
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index.
"The other night, when I was reading Twenge and Campbell's excellent and timely new book, my husband was busy framing a fake "Sports Illustrated" cover, with a picture of our 7-year old over the caption, "Player of the Year." "The Narcissism Epidemic" will hew close to the bone, rouse, and provoke many readers as it shines a spotlight on an important -- and highly costly -- trend in our lives. Rooted in hard data and illuminated with revealing anecdotes, stories, and solutions, "The Narcissism Epidemic" is both a pleasure and an education. But enough about this book. Let's talk about me." -- Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., author of "The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want"
"An important and illuminating book. Drs. Twenge and Campbell expertly analyze many strands of American culture and reveal an alarming tapestry of psychocultural narcissism. They also offer sound strategies for slowing this epidemic." -- Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., author of "Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel" and "So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids"
"Phenomenal..."The Narcissism Epidemic" clearly and succinctly identifies the dangerous disease and the catastrophic ways it threatens our society and future, and reveals urgently needed solutions at every level. The chapter on parenting alone makes this book priceless and should be compulsory reading." -- Patrick Wanis PhD, Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert, author of "How to Find Happiness"
"Filled with important, disturbing research detailing the alarming cultural spread of narcissism today -- a serious social problem to which many people are unwittingly contributing without realizing the disastrous consequences. The authors give sound advice and provide an important resource for anyone who cares about compassion, empathy, and emotional connection rather than ME, ME, ME!" -- Karyl McBride, Ph.D., author of "Will I Ever Be Good Enough? Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers "
""The Narcissism Epidemic" is a must read, an essential antidote to a culture spinning out of control. Filled with facts, fascinating examples, and written in a highly readable style, Twenge and Campbell's outstanding book shows how narcissism has been on the rise and has taken over almost every part of our lives and how we can rescue our culture from ourselves. An outstanding accomplishment by two people who truly care about the debacle of self-worship. It should be read by anyone interested in the future of our country" -- Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., author of "Anxiety Free: Unravel Your Fears Before They Unravel You"
Jean M. Twenge, PhD, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, is the author of more than a hundred scientific publications and several books based on her research, including Generations, iGen, and Generation Me. Her research has been covered in Time, The Atlantic, Newsweek, The New York Times, USA TODAY, and The Washington Post. She has also been featured on Today, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, CBS This Morning, and NPR. She lives in San Diego with her husband and three daughters.
W. Keith Campbell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia, is the author of more than 65 scientific journal articles and book chapters and the book, When You Love a Man Who Loves Himself: How to Deal with a One-way Relationship (Sourcebooks, 2005). He has published more than 30 journal articles and chapters on narcissism, more than any other academic researcher. He is also a contributing author of the study on the rise in narcissism covered by the Associated Press. His research has appeared in USA Today, Newsweek, and The Washington Post, and he has been featured on Fox News' The Big Story and made numerous radio appearances. He holds a BA from the University of California at Berkeley, an MA from San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in Athens, Georgia, with his wife and daughter.
Atria Books
Pub Date: April 13, 2010
0.89" H x 8.44" L x 6.6" W
368 pages
paperback