<p>Perhaps some of us may find this article/study interesting. Though they talk primarily about college kids, it won't matter much since the age difference is not that big and most of BS students here will go to college eventually.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, what do you guys think? Especially those who have a chance to experience both generations.</p>
<p>FYI - Already being discussed in ...</p>
<p>But it is a topic of interest to prep school applicants as well...</p>
<p>very good article. It got me thinking of an idea for my psychology portfolio. Thank you :)</p>
<p>Yes, our generation is very narcissistic because we've become so competitive that we all think we can be the best, but in reality, only a few actually fulfill that dream. We don't like to think "Oh, I'm only mediocre" because that's not satisfying. I admit I am guilty of saying some of the things mentioned in the article, but not "I am special". Then again, I wouldn't say "I am not special" and be pessimisstic. I think we're all out to impress, so we put ourselves on a pedestal. Then there are some more idealistic people who know where they really stand, and those are the people I admire.</p>
<p>While the article does admit that there are some positive aspects of narcissism, it's pretty skewed towards the dark side as a whole. </p>
<p>I contend that the CERTAIN personality of society - including narcissism, idealism, self-centeredness and altruism - has always been present. One of these elements adjust to predominate over the others in different historical phases of our society. </p>
<p>Is the concept of being "narcissistic" today the same with the one in 30-40 years ago? Can the kids today afford not to be "narcissistic"? Is being "narcissistic" necessarily detrimental to TODAY's society?</p>
<p>It's the same old story.</p>
<p>When I was in college we had protests over a new alcohol policy on campus. It was highly punitive...and light on counseling, psych services, and other remedial measures. So there were protests. Some people protested to encourage the university to take a more enlightened and compassionate approach; while others protested to have better parties. It was impossible to separate the groups. At one rally, filmed for national news, protestors broke out in song, "All we are saying....is give BEER a chance..."</p>
<p>John Lennon, who had died 3 years earlier, was rolling in his grave. National newscasts made it a big story, comparing our generation to the '60s students and Vietnam War protestors, saying that our generation was more narcissistic than out '60s counterparts.</p>
<p>But then -- at the time -- how do you think people in mainstream America viewed the college students of the '60s? That's right. THEY were narcissists. While there were war protestors and Peace Corps pioneers, you couldn't separate them from the vast numbers of college students committed to nothing significant beyond free love and marijuana reform.</p>
<p>And before that...well...that was the generation that went to college on the G.I. Bill -- the group that had just fought and won a World War before matriculating to college; the group that made college something attainable to more than just the bluest of blue-bloods. While that group could hardly be pegged as narcissistic compared to previous generations of silk stockinged college-goers, I have no doubt that the former GIs were regarded as riff-raff and interlopers on the once highly exclusive college scene.</p>
<p>No new generation will be regarded by any previous generation as worthy successors to those previous generations sitting in judgment. I think that's simply a function of human nature.</p>
<p>Good writing as usual, D'yer Maker!^^</p>
<p>Reading the article, I kind of recognized myself in the people they talked about. I do think I'm special.</p>
<p>But not in the "I'm better than all of you and you all suck" way. It's like, I think I'm special but I haven't really achieved my potential yet. Like, I think that I'm not like everybody else, and it's true- I'm not. I think that I could be a really good writer one day, and I guess that would make me special. It's true though, that I feel this way pretty much because everyone has been telling me that since I was little.</p>
<p>What about competition? Aren't we all very competetive these days XD?</p>