Narcissism seems to be a more prevalent personality trait in our generation than in the past. The evidence of this epidemic lies in the overall changes in individuals and in the culture at large. As Dr. Jean Twenge has acknowledged in her book Generation Me, America has become a much more accepting and relaxed society than we previously were. Twenge has appropriately named this youthful group of people “Generation Me”, or “GenMe.” Anyone born from roughly 1970 to 1999 is a member of this phenomenon.
The GenMe-ers are more likely than their parents’ generation (the baby boomers) and even more likely than their grandparents’ generation to believe that there is not just one right way to be, live or act. The past generations have placed great value on standards and traditions, but the GenMe-ers seem to deposit a larger value into an individual’s choice, rather than a collective compromise. The supposed key to success for these GenMe-ers is to believe in themselves and disregard what people think of them. Twenge goes further to use the film Pleasantville as an illustration of the zeitgeist and the thought process behind the GenMe-ers’ point of view. In the fictitious city of Pleasantville, the characters discover that they are capable of disregarding social norms and acting the way they want to act. This discovery expedites the collapse of social order and the tenuous rules of society, while giving rise to the power of the individual.
There are several distinct characteristics of this cohort that sets them apart from other generations. One attribute is the direct and guileless approach GenMe-ers take, rather than the respectful modus operandi that the baby boomer generation prefers. Another quality they have is high self-esteem (maybe too high). Parents and teachers have focused on making these children feel good about themselves instead of correcting errors in a homework assignment or teaching a possibly significant lesson. A third feature of GenMe-ers is the assertion of entitlement; while a fourth is the idea that they can do the impossible with little or no training. When these beliefs merge, the GenMe-ers are destined for disappointment. This group of individuals does not react particularly well to critical evaluations, and rarely takes responsibility for their faults. The Generation Me’s live in an entirely different economic climate than any generation before them, which explains the compelling and perhaps justified feeling of panic when mulling over the right career to be financially stable.
GenMe-ers are the first generation to be raised with the mindset that their individual opinion and experience is practically fundamental to the development of society as a whole. They have been raised with the reassurance that plastic surgery can restore their sophomoric looks when age sets in and material items like new shoes, clothes and make-up can alleviate feelings of inadequacy and self-consciousness. Behind the narcissistic and overinflated egos of Generation Me lies a delicate self-esteem. It seems that not only the people in our society have become narcissistic, but our entire society’s values have become self-centered.
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