Did you know that if you spend time at social network websites like Facebook you might be a narcissist?
Of course not everyone who uses Facebook is one. A recent study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (Buffardi and Cambell, …
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This looks like a witch-hunt to me.
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Did you know that if you spend time at social network websites like Facebook you might be a narcissist?
Of course not everyone who uses Facebook is one.
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I think these sentences are misleading, and a poor start for the article. They give one the impression that only *some* facebook users are *not* narcissists, rather than that a small minority of facebook users, but perhaps a higher proportion than that found in the general population fit the criteria for narcissism.
Not to mention that narcissism is one of the most controversial specifications even in the category of personality disorders, which is controversial itself.
Descriptions of the type “the narcissist (or the borderline, the manic-depressive etc.) is such and such” are always problematic, in my opinion, for they have a powerful stigmatizing effect. Moreover, with all due respect, a great lot of people might identify with the second part of your description of a narcissist in this article. Most people like to talk of themselves, or look at themselves. One should consider the emotional effect of one’s writings on a person remote from psychological debates, especially if these writings are posted on a forum frequented by a lot of such people.
Dan,
I did not try to say whether a large, small, or medium group represented the amount of narcissists on Facebook. I personally view narcissism in terms of varying intensities.
I agree with you that labels can be stigmatizing. That is unfortunate. Having no labels is impossible, especially when you observe dysfunctional traits that appear common in a group of people.
I want to reassure you that I do try to be careful in what I write. I would hope that people are mature enough to know that they need to make up their own minds as their experience resonates or not with what is written.
For clarification purpose, my article was simply an attempt to relay the practical points dealt with in a formal study. I obtained a copy of the study as published and then wrote based off article points. The study itself utilized the NPI (Narcissistic Personality Inventory) composed of a 40 item personality questionnaire for use with the normal population. The NPI has credibility and sufficient reliability to give it a robust place in testing. The results were compared to human raters’ results, which seemed to confirm the NPI results.
If you have any concerns about this study you can email the authors:
Laura E. Buffardi: lbuffardi@gmail.com
W. Keith Campbell: wkeithcampbell@gmail.com
They are with the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Hope this helps,
Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D.
http://www.DrSam.tv
Here is the thing…there are so many ways that social media sites are used, that to say that any of these people are narcissistic, is ridiculous.
For a great many people, places like FaceBook are not just for sharing with long time friends, but, they are also places to meet new people and for networking. I don’t believe that I have ever seen a study that named networkers as narcissists.
There are so many variables in sites such as FaceBook, that this study does not cover. I think that some narcissism is healthy, of course true narcissism is not healthy, but, we are so quick now days to point the finger, when we should be finding more positive things to help each other with.
I’ve always wondered if anyone had started doing research on the shape and nature of relationship on social networking sites. As with any new research, it takes some time to get the language right to describe elements of a new concept or paradigm. Congratulations Dr. De Victoria or braving a new world — because that’s what social networking is. I believe social networking sites have become a necessity in an age when disconnection as a result of distance is a reality — especially in the life of an immigrant. Families are no longer living within walking or driving distance of one another — parents are raising children while extended family may live in another town, city or even country. I myself have immigrated from Canada to another country. My first two years of transition could be considered traumatic as I had to give up everything (career, friends and colleagues established over a log period of time, etc.) and my husband’s job relocation occurred just as I had become a new mother (a sensitive time during which many women become socially and emotionally isolated in the care of their new child). FaceBook provided me the opportunity to keep connected with close friends and family in a way that was more instantaneous than “snail mail” and even e-mails. (I particularly like the chat function which regularly ends in a mutual decision to talk on the phone.) FaceBook has become simply another tool to plan visits, share pictures (often while also on the phone with the person who posted them) and arrange for face-to-face time. It also provided me with enough relational contact to give me the encouragement to establish friendships and connections within my new “hometown”. Ultimately, FaceBook has been helpful but “LOL”, “SETE” and “XOXO” are no substitute for seeing a friend’s smile (and their tears) or wrapping your arms around them in a warm hug.
Anissa,
You said, “to say that any of these people are narcissistic, is ridiculous.”
I would like to point out that my article was about a study done based on administering a psychological test and also compared to actual raters. It is an early study. More needs to be done. The point is that not all users of social network websites are narcissists. I would agree with you and I say that in the article. The interesting thing about the study is that there is a confirmed (by testing and rating and combining results) presence of narcissists and that they have observable traits that are consistent.
I agree that all of us have or should have a small amount of narcissism in the form of caring about your own person on some basic level. When it becomes the only thing then it becomes, in my opinion, extreme narcissism. I believe this kind of narcissism is what the researchers in the study were focused on.
I hope this has clarified the issues.
Best regards,
Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D.
http://www.DrSam.tv
Jaya,
Thank you for your congratulations.
I would agree with everything you said in terms of how these social networking sites can help overcome traditional obstacles such as distance, time zones, losing contact, etc. I find them quite helpful and have found many of my good friends of my youth, college, and professionally. As you say, it is easier to keep in touch with these and family, especially when planning reunions and consulting on family events.
As for me, I look forward to the many exciting communication tools that are becoming available to us (Blackberry, IPhone, Instinct, Skype, Twitter, IM, etc.).
While these are wonderful tools to connect us there is also a dark side to this. Egocentric opportunists and evil persons can also use it to create much hurt and pain in our world.
Best regards,
Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D.
http://www.DrSam.tv
FaceBook is an interesting phenomenon — you can be anyone you want with all the characteristics of what society defines as a “popular” person. I do find it concerning in a number of ways including the presence of provocative pictures, large numbers of “friends” (in excess of 350 sometimes — honestly, what kind of real relationship could you have with all these people?), detailed information with little security to shut out those who do not need (or should not have) access to it, the lack of boundaries as evidenced by low security settings (mine are so high, you won’t find me unless I have met you personally). It seems to me it’s a microcosm of a high school environment at times with additional applications that can be used to talk about what books you’ve read, where you’ve traveled and who of your friends are actually your “best” friends. Many people do send the implied message of “look at me and how liked I am”. As I continued to ponder your article, one of the points jumped out at me. You summarized a research finding stating, “Narcissists tended to present themselves as important through the expression of their opinions.” Might this research hold true for some of the types of of posts that are placed on this website? Might this hold true also for some bloggers?
Jaya,
In my own opinion, I think the principles found in this study simply reflect how narcissistic our society has become. It is the fruit of “Me Generation” parents. It would be no surprise to see any social network website, forum, or even blog a place that feeds narcissists looking for opportunities. I already know of some blogs that give me almost a sick feeling like that of being in the presence of a totally selfish person where you mean nothing to them and it is all about their own small little world of the ego.
Good thoughts on your part. Thank you!
Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D.
http://www.DrSam.tv
I am not a supporter of online networking,especially Facebook, where it is virtually impossible to locate friends from your past if you do not have an email address. Many members are narcissists. There are also members with other personality disorders that should be included in the article. I date a 45 year old man, occasionally, who meets all the criteria for Schizotypal Personality Disorder. He is extremely awkward
in social situations, has had a series of failed relationships, and is incapable of emotional intimacy. He is a loner and spends much time isolating in his bedroom. But he clearly likes to be with women and can be a ggod lover. I believe that Facebook is a safe place for him
to connect with women. He would never give flowers or a gift in person and here he can give multiple gifts of hugs, flirts, etc, He also likes to upload pictures of himself. He lacks close friends, has
paranoid ideations and lacks facial expression. I can never tell if he is happy or sad. With all that said, I know he enjoys my company, even if it’s only 2 or 3 times a month for brief periods. I adore him, so it breaks my heart that he would rather spend hours with facebook than me.
I also know of a young woman with Histrionic Personality and
relies on sexually provocative behavior and pictures in order to
attract men. You wold never know from her profile what a self-centered, shallow woman she is. I think facebook is great for
college kids. My final opinion: Aboutface Facebook.
Agree absolutely.
Spend a couple of months on Facebook and you’ll be sickened by people you once thought were “friends”.
It’s a good “friend filter”, I guess.
I believe that this article is very accurate.
Unless this article stipulates the AGE of the person on Facebook, I’m not sure where we’re going. Young people are inherently more self-absorbed, and they are still learning who they are – hence the picture-taking aplenty, vanity, etc. When seasoned adults post the same type of photos and display the same types of behavior, the behavior is actually DIFFERENT because we have to view appropriateness from the context of our years.
One other thought. Some of us – due to the economy, etc. have had to MOVE multiple times, and by the time we’re at mid-life, we find that we’re far away and many times removed from all that we once held dear. We get to a point where we want to return to our roots, and social networking sites can put us back in touch with people we haven’t seen years. Does this make us narcissists.
Caroline,
I agree with you for the most part. Still, whether you call it “self-absorbed,” “Ego-centrism,” or other it is still narcissism. Hopefully for an adolescent they grow out of it with the help of patient and non-extreme-narcissistic parents. I personally believe that extreme narcissism in anyone from adolescent to adult is unhealthy. I am saying, “Extreme” as not just some narcissism but approaching “completely narcissisistic.” Extremely narcissistic children who do not get challenged, trained, and illumined then become the adult controllers, manipulators, and egotists that most of us ultimately end up disliking.
Thanks for your valuable input.
Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D.
http://www.DrSam.tv
Caroline said, “Does this make us narcissists.”
Not at all, Caroline. Social networking is a human need. Some try to meet that need as a narcissist and others just simply want to connect with others because they care.
Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D.
http://www.DrSam.tv
Bravo ! You hit the nail on the head. The Facebook “walls” are all about “showing off.” It’s all about being a “busybody.” I want nothing to do with Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg is the epitome’ of a “narcissist.” He used people to get what he wanted, then discarded them as trash. He’s shallow as he!!. He pegged all people who sign up for Facebook and “give him” all their information/pictures as “Stupid F*cks.” Those were his exact words. Look it up, it’s the truth. Why???!!! I’ve always wondered would anyone support this guy.