I found an interesting article in the Ivy Jungle Campus Ministry Update. They quote from an AP article of February 27, 2007:
All that positive self esteem teaching has sunk in among today’s college students. A study by a group of psychologists shows that college students today exhibit a higher level of narcissism and self-centeredness than those who have gone before them. The Narcissistic Personality Inventory has now been used by this group of researchers for more than 25 years. While the current students have a much higher self esteem, they also show tendencies to have romantic relationships that are “short lived, at risk for infidelity, and lack emotional warmth”, one of several indicators exhibited that show a high degree of narcissism. Lead researcher Jean Twenge has published her findings in “Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled – and More Miserable Than Ever.” She has also stated that today’s technology – such as MySpace and YouTube only fuel this unhealthy narcissism.
Poor kids. Explains a lot.
It all started when those college kids played on a youth sports team where the coach told them “Great Job” and gave everyone a trophy even when they played terribly. I think it’s important for kids to have good self esteem, but THIS is what happens when they’re praised for everything they do, good or bad.
Wonder why I am not surprised.
I got three notifies, one didn’t work at all. But I found you and see you have changed things. Kinda miss the plane. š