The reason for choosing this topic is its clearness. The younger generations of today exhibit a significant amount of narcissism. They are much more self-centered than previous generations and have changed their priorities accordingly. We are currently living in what can be called the I-Generation, where looking attractive and sharing selfies has become the norm. Young people are giving up their teenage years to seek attention and a feeling of importance.
Both Dr. Jean Twenge and Sigmund Freud are psychologists studying the younger generations. The term “narcissist” pertains to individuals who prioritize themselves and strive for admiration of their own qualities. In her book Generation Me, Dr. Twenge further explores the younger generation, depicting them as possessing characteristics like tolerance, confidence, open-mindedness, and ambition. Nevertheless, they also display attributes such as disengagement, narcissism, distrust, and anxiety.
Finding evidence that supports your opinion is refreshing and makes a lot of sense. Dr. Twenge explores how the “gen me-ers” are reshaping society’s understanding of individuality. She emphasizes their distinct preferences on subjects such as compensation, work-life balance, and personal impact, suggesting that their priorities may be misguided. Dr. Twenge conducted various studies, including a 2006 experiment centered around the Narcissistic Personality Inventory.
The test revealed that narcissism scores in the 2000s were significantly higher compared to those from the 1990s and 1980s. Professor Twenge acknowledges that self-focus and narcissism are typical during the normal development of individuals aged 18-19. However, she argues that current generations exhibit even higher levels of narcissism than previous ones. Additionally, it was observed that men generally have slightly higher narcissism scores than women, although women are rapidly reducing this gap.
These tests and studies reveal numerous opportunities for further exploration. Twenge acknowledges that there has been an increase in the demand for plastic surgeries. The focus is on achieving an optimal appearance resembling a Barbie doll. People are taking their obsession with beauty to the extreme, making attempts to achieve perfection.
