2008 Woodie Awards
Why I am so great
Nikkee Porcaro
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Opinion
By the way, I'm awesome, if you didn't already know. A recent article on CNN's website reports that college students are more narcissistic and self-centered today than in any other previous generation. This study was conducted by five psychologists, who "worry that the trend could be harmful to personal relationships and American society."
There is plenty of evidence in popular culture of egotism and self-centeredness. The teen movie genre, which exploded in the mid-90s, usually featured at least one leading character with a highly overinflated opinion of him or herself. The 2004 movie Mean Girls had a pack of them. The 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You has Julia Stiles countering her egotistical sister, who accused Stiles' character of being from "Planet Loser" with, "As opposed to being from Planet Look-at-me, Look-at-me!" In that same movie, Andrew Keegan's character is a popular jock/model and a god in his own mind - and rarely misses an opportunity to tell anyone within earshot.
Women's magazines such as Cosmopolitan advocate selfishness in their own ways by telling women to ensure their own pleasure, no matter what and to embrace their own bodies, no matter what they look like, as "beautiful" and "sexy" in a more mature brand of "girl power." Makeup powerhouse L'Oreal's motto is"Because you're worth it." Another frequently seen ad in women's magazines proclaims, "I want what I want when I want it."
Men are faced with this, too. The LeBrons, Carmelos and Shawne Merrimans of the world, though atypical for their age group, are still in the same age demographic as college kids. They know they're fabulous and have no problem bragging about it to any sports writer who will listen. Hell, Merriman created his own persona based on a nickname - Lights Out - to describe his defensive abilities on the football field.
I've seen it around College Park, too. Working as a Miller Lite girl at Cornerstone the other night, I was packing up our golf game promotion as I finished my shift. I told a guy waiting to play that I was sorry, but he had to leave.
"I'm on the f---ing baseball team," he yelled. "I'm playing." I told him that I didn't care if he was on the Baltimore Orioles, the game was over.
"But I'm a goddamn baseball player," he screamed.
Clearly, this guy had overestimated his self-worth, but our society encourages this. According to the article, the researchers traced the phenomenon back to what they called the "self-esteem movement" that emerged in the 1980s, and asserted that the effort to build self-confidence had gone too far. The survey they used asked respondents to agree or disagree with statements such as "If I ruled the world, it would be a better place" and "I can live my life any way I want to." Two-thirds of the students had above-average scores, which was a 30 percent increase from 1982.
One psychologist referenced a song often taught in preschools, "I am special, I am special, look at me," as a main offender in this trend.
This may be extreme, but an alternative song "I suck at life, I don't matter," hardly seems appropriate. And a student quoted in the CNN article brings up a good point: It would be more depressing if people answered, "No, I'm not special." But nonetheless, narcissism does need to be kept in check.
Parents and teachers simply need to find a happy medium between telling children they are special and worthwhile and keeping them in line by acknowledging younger ones have mistakes and shortcomings. This study should not be taken as a definitive attack on our demographic but a wake-up call in reevaluating our own arrogance.
But whether you agree or disagree, I don't care. I'm special anyway.
Nikkee Porcaro is a senior journalism major. She can be reached at cole120@umd.edu.
There is plenty of evidence in popular culture of egotism and self-centeredness. The teen movie genre, which exploded in the mid-90s, usually featured at least one leading character with a highly overinflated opinion of him or herself. The 2004 movie Mean Girls had a pack of them. The 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You has Julia Stiles countering her egotistical sister, who accused Stiles' character of being from "Planet Loser" with, "As opposed to being from Planet Look-at-me, Look-at-me!" In that same movie, Andrew Keegan's character is a popular jock/model and a god in his own mind - and rarely misses an opportunity to tell anyone within earshot.
Women's magazines such as Cosmopolitan advocate selfishness in their own ways by telling women to ensure their own pleasure, no matter what and to embrace their own bodies, no matter what they look like, as "beautiful" and "sexy" in a more mature brand of "girl power." Makeup powerhouse L'Oreal's motto is"Because you're worth it." Another frequently seen ad in women's magazines proclaims, "I want what I want when I want it."
Men are faced with this, too. The LeBrons, Carmelos and Shawne Merrimans of the world, though atypical for their age group, are still in the same age demographic as college kids. They know they're fabulous and have no problem bragging about it to any sports writer who will listen. Hell, Merriman created his own persona based on a nickname - Lights Out - to describe his defensive abilities on the football field.
I've seen it around College Park, too. Working as a Miller Lite girl at Cornerstone the other night, I was packing up our golf game promotion as I finished my shift. I told a guy waiting to play that I was sorry, but he had to leave.
"I'm on the f---ing baseball team," he yelled. "I'm playing." I told him that I didn't care if he was on the Baltimore Orioles, the game was over.
"But I'm a goddamn baseball player," he screamed.
Clearly, this guy had overestimated his self-worth, but our society encourages this. According to the article, the researchers traced the phenomenon back to what they called the "self-esteem movement" that emerged in the 1980s, and asserted that the effort to build self-confidence had gone too far. The survey they used asked respondents to agree or disagree with statements such as "If I ruled the world, it would be a better place" and "I can live my life any way I want to." Two-thirds of the students had above-average scores, which was a 30 percent increase from 1982.
One psychologist referenced a song often taught in preschools, "I am special, I am special, look at me," as a main offender in this trend.
This may be extreme, but an alternative song "I suck at life, I don't matter," hardly seems appropriate. And a student quoted in the CNN article brings up a good point: It would be more depressing if people answered, "No, I'm not special." But nonetheless, narcissism does need to be kept in check.
Parents and teachers simply need to find a happy medium between telling children they are special and worthwhile and keeping them in line by acknowledging younger ones have mistakes and shortcomings. This study should not be taken as a definitive attack on our demographic but a wake-up call in reevaluating our own arrogance.
But whether you agree or disagree, I don't care. I'm special anyway.
Nikkee Porcaro is a senior journalism major. She can be reached at cole120@umd.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Scott
posted 3/06/07 @ 9:50 AM EST
If you had bothered to the book (Generation Me) the CNN piece was written on before writing this article, you would know that Dr. Jean Twenge recommends teaching self-control over self-esteem and actually offers a very comprehensive look at the whole process they used to make their conclusions. (Continued…)
Phil
posted 3/06/07 @ 10:25 AM EST
I don't disagree, most college students feel a sense of entitlement, even those who we wouldn't probably call arrogant do, but I don't know if I would go so far as to say it could harm personal relationships of our generation. (Continued…)
Jimbo56
posted 3/06/07 @ 11:45 AM EST
Nikki,
You know that I am a fan. I am also old enough to be the father of a college age child. I have seen some changes is society with my children that didn't exist 25 years ago. (Continued…)
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