Narcissism vs. Healthy Vision and Expression of Self

Introduction to Art Education: Issues Based Collaborative ProjectKaty Johnson

Hannah Westmoreland Heather Fouts

Taryn

Defining the Disorder: NarcissismNarcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated

sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with this condition believe that they are superior to others and hold little regard for the feelings or circumstances of other people. Narcissists can behave in socially distressing ways,

limiting their ability to function in personal and professional relationships. Often behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the

slightest criticism. (Mayo Clinic Staff)

Collaborative Project Goal

Via public art and social networking we hope to

promote overall self-awareness; to learn

together how to employ healthy methods of expressing oneself

artistically and professionally without loosing respect for the

feelings and circumstances of others.

Details of Project• As a group we created and maintain a Facebook page titled

“Mirrors” to record progress of this project and communicate via social networking. https://www.facebook.com/mirrorsproject?ref=hl

• We each created artifacts to be placed publicly to direct attention to our Facebook page. As a group we distributed our artifacts in locations people would be looking in mirrors: restrooms, beauty salons, tanning bed booths, dressing rooms, tattoo parlors.

• We focused our research on four areas related to narcissism: – Narcissism on the Internet– The Psychology of Insecurity– Consumerism and Importance of Name Brands/Labels– Behavioral Health: Coping With and Combating Narcissism

Artifacts Created By our Group

Narcissism on the Internet

• Observers use three characteristics when determining an online narcissist:

• quantity of social interaction• attractiveness of the

individual and• the degree of self promotion

in the main photo • - World Health Organization

ICD-10 (2008)• “In data from 37,000 college students, narcissistic

personality traits rose just as fast as obesity from the 1980s to the present, with the shift especially pronounced for women.”

• - “The Narcissism Epidemic,” J. M. Twenge & W. K. Campbell

Is Facebook really making us lonely?

Internet was meant to help broaden our horizons – instead doing the opposite

Narcissists are using Facebook the same way they use their other relationships: self promotion with an emphasis on quantity of over quality

In an anonymous online study, people admit to posting pictures simply to get “likes” or “reblogs”, not to stay connected. - World Health Organization (2008)

Narcissism on the Internet continued…

The Psychology of InsecurityInsecurity is an

emotion brought on by the mental torment of the

desire to be perfect. Peers, media, and

culture influences a person to change

what they really are physically and

mentally.

Consumerism and the

Importance of Labels

The average American woman spends 12K a year to make herself ‘look

good’

Society’s priorities on what’s really important in life seem to be lying in what’s the hottest

trend in clothing and beauty products.

“A mans Self is the sum total of all that he CAN call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house…his lands, and

yacht and bank account” –William James

Statistics from James J. Farrell’s book, “One Nation Under Goods”

“Malls express our consumer culture, revealing us to ourselves

The Nacirema

Horace Miner wrote a critique on the Nacirema, including information on certain practices and beliefs in their culture.

Every house has one or more shrines devoted to avoiding debility and disease of the body through ritual and ceremony.

“The focal point of the shrine is a box or chest which is built into the wall. In the chest are kept the many charms and magical potions without which no native believes he could live…”

Were it not for the ritual of the mouth, which includes inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and visiting a holy-mouth-man that even “if there are no naturally occurring holes in the teeth, large sections of one or more teeth are gouged out so that the supernatural substance can be applied. In the clients view, the purpose of these ministrations is to arrest decay and to draw friends”

Nacirema backwards spells…American!

A satirical critique of our culture, what do you think?

Narcissism is Fueled by

Culture• Parenting: “My child deserves

better than what I had.”

• Popular Media: Teaching the “acceptable image” and persuading the purchase of “necessary things.”

• Professionalism: The belief that abundance of confidence will lead to success in life.

• Entitlement: Development and imitation of ways to “work” systems (i.e. welfare, federal aid, union support, legal processes) for personal benefit and exploitation.

Behavioral Health: What to Consider

• Narcissism has been declared a “behavioral disorder” and even an “epidemic in America” by various psychologists and other professionals (NBCNews.com)

• Narcissistic Behavioral Disorder is treated professionally by use of psychotherapy and anti-depressant / anti-anxiety drugs (Mayo Clinic Staff)

• Not everyone who behaves selfishly or with elevated self-esteem is a narcissist.

• A healthy balance of self-worth and humility/modesty is something generally learned through life experiences.

Love

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Refrences

• Aboujaoude, Elias. "Rise of the Online Narcissist." Psychology Today. N.p., 16 Feb. 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/compulsive-acts/201102/rise-the-online-narcissist>.

• Buffardi, Laura. "Narcissists Can Be Identified By Their Facebook Accounts - Psychologists." Narcissists Can Be Identified By Their Facebook Accounts - Psychologists. N.p., 22 Sept. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.science20.com/news_articles/narcissists_can_be_identified_their_facebook_accounts_psychologists-32720>.

• Campbell, Kieth. "The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement  Book." � The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement  Book� . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. http://www.narcissismepidemic.com/.>

• Marche, Stephen. "Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?" The Atlantic May 2012: n. pag. Web.

• YouTube. Dir. Sam Vaknin. Perf. Sam Vaknin. YouTube. YouTube, 10 Aug. 2010. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgyd8YEKh80>.

References• De Victoria, PhD., S. L. (n.d.). How to Spot a Narcissist | World of Psychology. Psych Central - Trusted mental health,

depression, bipolar, ADHD and psychology information .. Retrieved November 13, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2008/08/04/how-to-spot-a-narcissist/

• Kelley, Raina. "Are We in a Narcissism Epidemic? - Newsweek and The Daily Beast." The Daily Beast. Newsweek, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/04/17/generation-me.html>.

• Lyon, Lindsay. "Narcissism Epidemic: Why There Are So Many Narcissists Now - US News and World Report." Health News Articles - US News Health. N.p., 21 Apr. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2009/04/21/narcissism-epidemic-why-there-are-so-many-narcissists-now>.

• Mayo Clinic Staff. "Narcissistic personality disorder - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/narcissistic-personality-disorder/DS00652>.

• NBCNews.com. "Me, me, me! America’s ‘Narcissism Epidemic’ - books - booksmiscellaneous - TODAY.com."TODAY - Top News Stories, Video Clips, Recipes and Guests | TODAY.com. Today Books, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30312181/ns/today-books/t/me-me-me-americas-narcissism-epidemic/>.