Prof. Chris French

But she was absolutely right. Yeah. And we are going to get more into the details of that later in the episode. But there's also what's considered basically normal narcissism, where, you know, you're like a little focused on yourself. You're quite confident, maybe to the point of being arrogant. Maybe sometimes you think you're better than other people.

But she was absolutely right. Yeah. And we are going to get more into the details of that later in the episode. But there's also what's considered basically normal narcissism, where, you know, you're like a little focused on yourself. You're quite confident, maybe to the point of being arrogant. Maybe sometimes you think you're better than other people.

Yeah, and there's a spectrum. When it comes to the garden variety narcissism, that's usually what scientists or the media are talking about when they talk about a narcissism epidemic. This question of whether lots of us are moving farther and farther up this narcissism spectrum. Okay. So, are we? So, to answer that, we got to go back to where this all started.

Yeah, and there's a spectrum. When it comes to the garden variety narcissism, that's usually what scientists or the media are talking about when they talk about a narcissism epidemic. This question of whether lots of us are moving farther and farther up this narcissism spectrum. Okay. So, are we? So, to answer that, we got to go back to where this all started.

We are going back to the late 90s, early 2000s.

We are going back to the late 90s, early 2000s.

That is W. Keith Campbell. He's a professor of psychology at the University of Georgia. But back then, he was a postdoc at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, along with another social scientist named Gene Twenge.

That is W. Keith Campbell. He's a professor of psychology at the University of Georgia. But back then, he was a postdoc at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, along with another social scientist named Gene Twenge.

And a lot of what they were talking about was how the culture seemed to be changing.

And a lot of what they were talking about was how the culture seemed to be changing.

I know, but I think right around then, a lot of people see that as an inflection point for certain things like reality TV. So Survivor debuted in 2000. Right around there is when American Idol started, America's Next Top Model. It's like fame, fame, fame, being on TV, being special. Yes.

I know, but I think right around then, a lot of people see that as an inflection point for certain things like reality TV. So Survivor debuted in 2000. Right around there is when American Idol started, America's Next Top Model. It's like fame, fame, fame, being on TV, being special. Yes.

So Keith and Jean were like, something's changing here, and it seems like people are changing in some fundamental way.

So Keith and Jean were like, something's changing here, and it seems like people are changing in some fundamental way.

So they really wanted to find this out, and they really wanted to get some data behind this idea. They were becoming more narcissistic. And luckily, there is this test that measures some narcissistic traits. It's called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. And what it's meant to do is to measure these grandiose narcissistic traits. Basically, how great you think you are.

So they really wanted to find this out, and they really wanted to get some data behind this idea. They were becoming more narcissistic. And luckily, there is this test that measures some narcissistic traits. It's called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. And what it's meant to do is to measure these grandiose narcissistic traits. Basically, how great you think you are.

Don't you want me to take it too? How special I am on the narcissism scale. Before we take it, do you have any... Do you have any guesses who will be higher on the narcissism scale?

Don't you want me to take it too? How special I am on the narcissism scale. Before we take it, do you have any... Do you have any guesses who will be higher on the narcissism scale?

You never know. You never know. Okay. So the instructions are to read each pair of statements below and place an X by the one that comes closest to describing your feelings and beliefs about yourself. You may feel that neither statement describes you well, but pick the one that comes closest.

You never know. You never know. Okay. So the instructions are to read each pair of statements below and place an X by the one that comes closest to describing your feelings and beliefs about yourself. You may feel that neither statement describes you well, but pick the one that comes closest.