# When did "narcissism" become a huge issue? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 12, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684 "2018-02-12T14:15:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/1 "2018-02-12T14:15:34Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/2 "2018-02-12T14:25:32Z")
It started when smartphones first put cameras on the same side as their screens. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/3 "2018-02-12T14:54:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/4 "2018-02-12T15:04:37Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It started when smartphones first put cameras on the same side as their screens. 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. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/5 "2018-02-12T15:08:26Z")
> **[On Narcissism](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Narcissism)** > > On Narcissism (German: Zur Einführung des Narzißmus) is a 1914 essay by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. > In the paper, Freud sums up his earlier discussions on the subject of narcissism and considers its place in sexual development. Furthermore, he looks at the deeper problems of the relation between the ego and external objects, drawing a new distinction between the 'ego-libido' and 'object-libido' He introduces the idea of the 'ego ideal', and the self-observing agency related to ... ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/6 "2018-02-12T15:22:53Z")
Haven’t noticed. To me, the latest overused buzzwords are “ghosting” and “gaslight.” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/7 "2018-02-12T17:40:59Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Haven’t noticed. To me, the latest overused buzzwords are “ghosting” and “gaslight.” Definitely seeing “gaslight” a lot, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/8 "2018-02-12T19:24:57Z")
It’s hardly new. It’s been around for [thousands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology)) of years. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/9 "2018-02-12T21:16:48Z")
Say what you will, I’ve found reading up on narcissists to be very helpful in my personal dealings with them. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/10 "2018-02-12T21:23:21Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/11 "2018-02-12T21:31:03Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/12 "2018-02-12T21:47:03Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Just for that, I am going No Contact with your posts. I hope you’re happy. > > No more Narcissistic supply for you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/13 "2018-02-12T22:29:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/14 "2018-02-13T03:32:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/15 "2018-02-13T05:19:54Z")
It’s always been around. PTSD used to be called “Shell Shock” back in the day. “Being an Asshole” is now Narcissism. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/16 "2018-02-13T07:58:27Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It started when smartphones first put cameras on the same side as their screens. :funny!: ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/17 "2018-02-13T08:06:53Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/18 "2018-02-14T19:21:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/19 "2018-02-16T02:06:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684/20 "2018-02-16T02:55:32Z")
People who think they are beautiful are very annoying to those of us who are. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-narcissism-become-a-huge-issue/808684.md?page=2)