Is Gen Y the Narcissistic Generation? Levels of Narcissism Among the Millennial Implication and the Cost on the Workforce

Title:  Is Gen Y the narcissistic generation? Levels of narcissism among the Millennial implication and the cost on the workforce.

Name: Jayde Glass

Unit: PSY2041

Student Number: 27832074

Lab: Friday 9am

Submitted: 24/ 09/ 2017

Word Count: 2206 words

Is Gen Y the narcissistic generation? Levels of narcissism among the Millennial implication and the cost on the workforce.

Jayde Glass

Monash University

Author Note

Abstract

Narcissism involves excessive self-love and an inflated idea of oneself. The millennial generation or Gen Y are depicted as the most ‘narcissistic generation’. Research supports that levels of narcissism among Gen Y are higher than previous generations.  The change is likely to be due to a combination of cultural factors, and changes within society.  Including, practices such as parents overindulging their children. Education also plays an important role, courses which endorse competition and materialistic values, may reinforce narcissism.  Self-focused social media also influences narcissism. The impact of narcissism is broad. As Gen Y is entering the workplace, the working environment is likely to change. Narcissistic trends are changing the workplace, characterized by poor decision-making and instability; they are likely to have an adverse impact in the long term. Considering, the detrimental effects we should then consider how we can change the narcissistic trend.

Is Gen Y the narcissistic generation? Levels of narcissism among the Millennial implication and the cost on the workforce.

Although narcissistic individuals have been present throughout history, the narcissistic personality trait seems to have become more dominant in the late twentieth century ( Millon, Grossman, Millon, Meagher & Ramnath, 2004).  This essay will focus on a form of narcissism known as grandiose narcissism. Grandiose narcissism is the more well-known form of narcissism characterized by an inflated sense of self, difficulty maintaining close interpersonal relationships and using attention seeking behaviours (Campbell, Bush, Brunell & Shelton, 2005).  Gen Y has or the narcissistic generation; the media has described them as a group of ‘hot house flowers puffed with a disproportionate sense of self-worth’ (Kelley, 2017).  There is psychological research to support the increasing trend in narcissism across generations (Westerman, Bergman, Bergman & Daly, 2011). However, there is a dispute over what impacts the increase in narcissism is having on society. Is society encouraging a healthy level of self-esteem, or have we gone too far?  Some argue that we’ve gone too far and the current trends in selfish behaviours reflect that we are in a 'narcissistic epidemic'(Twenge, 2014).

 The implications of this are of interest to organizational settings because narcissism is associated with poor leadership and making poor decisions. Are these differences in levels of narcissism creating a generational gap in the workplace? Some studies indicate there is not a statistically significant difference in narcissism among the Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial generations in the workplace

(Fenzel, 2013). However, other studies indicate that with the rapid influx of millennials into the workplace, is likely to have negative consequences for the workforce. Given potential adverse impacts of narcissism on society, it is important to consider which factors are contributing to its development ( Bradley, 2016). Parenting styles and relationships are important to personality traits, such as narcissism  ( Bradley, 2016). New trends towards obsession in social media, may also be reinforcing narcissism and narcissistic behaviours ( Gentile, Twenge, Freeman & Campbell, 2012)  This essay will argue that research indicates that this generation is more narcissistic than the previous generation, which is likely to have negative consequences for the working environment. Hence, society should attempt to shift the culture which endorses narcissism.

This essay will review

• The definition of narcissism and how it differs from Narcissistic Personality Disorder ( NPD)
• Increases in narcissism across generations
• The broader social and environmental impacts of narcissism, focusing on the workplace.
• Individual and societal factors which are contributing to narcissism.

Narcissism involves an excessive self-love, an inflated idea of oneself and disinterest with others or establishing close interpersonal relationships (Campbell, Bush, Brunell & Shelton, 2005).  Narcissists tend to value their accomplishments and utilize a range of strategies to maintain their positive self-view, by seeking appraisal and ignoring criticism ( Tamborski, Brown & Chowning, 2012).  There are two forms of narcissism: grandiose and vulnerable (Campbell, Hoffman, Campbell & Marchisio, 2011).  Vulnerable narcissism is characterized by individuals who are hostile, have low esteem and are depressed or anxious (Campbell, Hoffman, Campbell & Marchisio, 2011).  Grandiose narcissism ( the most studied form of narcissism) is characterized by being overconfident, extraverted and attention seeking (Campbell, Hoffman, Campbell & Marchisio, 2011).  This essay will focus on narcissism as a personality trait, measured along a continuum ranging from a healthy self-esteem to a maladjusted level of narcissism ( Watson, Morris and Miller, 1998). The personality trait of narcissism is distinct from, however, related to the clinical form of narcissistic personality disorder (NDP).   (Foster, Shiverdecker & Turner, 2016).

Narcissism is most commonly measured using the Narcissistic Personality Inventory ( NPI); there are several variations of the NPI (Foster, Shiverdecker & Turner, 2016). However, the most common form contains 40 items that indicate a range of traits which make up narcissism, such as feelings of being superior and self-catered behaviour (Foster, Shiverdecker & Turner, 2016). Narcissistic individuals are apt to possess low levels of empathy for others, endorse competitive and individualistic values and exploit groups for their benefit  (Campbell, Bush, Brunell & Shelton, 2005). These attributes reflect a trend of maladaptive behaviours which narcissistic individuals are likely to do. Thus, it is important to consider how narcissism occurs throughout society and what factors are reinforcing narcissistic behaviours.