Every few years, a new pop psychology buzzword makes the rounds. Right now, it seems to be “narcissism.” Every other self-help book, every other women’s magazine cover is about " My narcissist mother" or “Your narcissist husband” or “How to handle a narcissist boss.”
I know, I know, this will pass like all the other buzzwords (I’m old enough to remember when “codependent” was as omnipresent as “narcissist” is now). But where did THIS fad come from?
It started when smartphones first put cameras on the same side as their screens.
I’m stunned you think this is a ‘now’ thing. Have you been living under a rock for forty years? That’s when I first heard all about it. Shrug…
Back then advice amounted to, run like the devil away from these people! Whereas now, there seems to be a move to how to live with an unavoidable narcissist, like a parent or boss.
Not sure if you’re kidding or not, but this is the first thing that came to my mind. Obviously narcissism isn’t new but it seems like people are feeling freer to indulge their inner narcissist.
Haven’t noticed. To me, the latest overused buzzwords are “ghosting” and “gaslight.”
Definitely seeing “gaslight” a lot, too.
It’s hardly new. It’s been around for thousands of years.
Say what you will, I’ve found reading up on narcissists to be very helpful in my personal dealings with them.
That just enables them.
Just for that, I am going No Contact with your posts. I hope you’re happy.
No more Narcissistic supply for you.
At the risk of derailing the thread, I think narcissism has been discussed a lot more in the last couple of years because of Donald Trump. He shows all the signs of narcissism and his campaign and presidency have made it a national issue.
Yes, the most recent stuff is probably to do with Trump. But, even before that, talk about it was higher. I think it has a lot to do with recognizing abuse. And that came because the people who faced abuse in the era where it was actually acknowledged came of age and became part of the culture.
This is also why gaslighting is mentioned a lot. It seemed only a niche thing at first. As for ghosting: that’s actually something that’s easier to do in a situation where you met online. When we only knew a few people, ghosting would make you look bad in your friend group. But now? Not really.
At least, that’s my surface level thoughts about it.
It’s always been around.
PTSD used to be called “Shell Shock” back in the day.
“Being an Asshole” is now Narcissism.
:funny!:
The original, mythical Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a quiet stream, and then…other stuff happened…or maybe didn’t happen because he couldn’t stop admiring himself and stayed there. I know the clinical term that bears his name isn’t supposed to mean necessarily that the person literally admires himself in a mirror, interminably. But, as Gatopescado suggests, to most people now it seems to mean simply “being an asshole”. Isn’t it possible to be an asshole without all the self love, though? Couldn’t despise yourself and still be an asshole?
One reason, I would guess, is that Social Media targets and amplifies narcissistic tendencies on people and I’ve seen cases were it led to pretty horrible situations.
Narcissism used to be reserved for folks spending too much time looking at reflections in water or mirrors. There have always been jerks, but audiences used to be local and situational. Selfies and social media give people an audience which tends to magnify pathology.
People who think they are beautiful are very annoying to those of us who are.