In my opinion our greater society has been slowly moving towards an individual model over one of community. I’m all for self-love and self-care, but there is still a way to have balance and care for others. When the COVID-19 pandemic took place, many were isolated from people. Many people struggled coping as they may have lost their jobs and/or loved ones. When the world reopened, we were wearing masks and socially distancing ourselves from others. In a recent conversation with someone I know, they then told me of their friend who’s a pharmacist. This friend was seeing an upward trend of “happy” pills being prescribed to people. These are usually pills that may help someone dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc. So, the question to ask is, is our world becoming more narcissistic?
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, narcissism is defined as having an exaggerated since of self-importance. An additional definition is being overly concerned about physical appearance. Having this definition is not meant to make anyone feel bad, but to make us aware that this behavior is increasing around us. It’s also to bring attention to how we nurture future generations. According to the Cleveland Clinic, narcissism can be caused by genetics, imitation, negative childhood experiences, parenting style, and cultural background. Some characteristics of a narcissist are as follows…
- Fragile self-esteem
- Being preoccupied with what others think of you
- Expecting special treatment by others
- Taking advantage of others for personal gains
- Saying things that may hurt others, especially the ones you love
- Behaving in a self-entitled way
- Having increased fantasies of deserving things such as success and love
- Lack of kindness towards others
- Hypersensitivity to criticism
- Perfectionism
Our world is changing and with social media and other online avenues, dealing with these behaviors/feelings can be hard. The first step to creating a better future in our world is when we recognize who we are and seek additional resources if needed.