I’m Really Special: Reflections on Narcissism in College Students

I came across a recent article in the Seattle PI recently about how young college students are terribly narcissistic and it impacts their social lives. It’s interesting, because it reflects several things I’ve observed about people in general. The article itself has some limitations – it’s clearly biased (almost scare-mongering), as are the psychologists who performed the study. In fact, the study’s lead author is Jean Twenge, author of Generation Me. This study serves to re-affirm what she pointed out in her book.

 
 

It immediately brought to mind a quote from The Incredibles:

 
 

I’m in my second semester of college, and I’ve noticed some things while here. So allow me to generalize to a truly outrageous degree in my speculation…

College is a place simultaneously of burgeoning, impossible dreams and an incredible sense of entitlement. It’s like people are on a track to success (which, admittedly, is largely true; with slight variations depending how you define success).

Of course, college students might be ignorant, naïve, protected, and abstracted away from every care in the world – but they’re not stupid. Most realize the situation they’re in. That doesn’t make it any easier to accept, or understand the implications.

However, I haven’t noticed an outrageous amount of “narcissism.” Fellow students seem well aware of their limitations; they struggle in classes, feel overwhelmed with the amount they’re required to read, enjoy social situations but often feel forced into them by classes and sleeping arrangements. In short, it’s not much different from “real life” (excepting things like bills and real consequences for failure…).

I do agree with the study in that people don’t feel obliged to limit their dreams to what ‘could be possible.’ Why aim to work as just another faceless middle manager in a large corporation when you can aim at the top? It’s simply logical – just much harder.

I prefer to be around people who believe that they are capable of great things.