The Culture of Narcissism

By Hayley Turner

When I hear the word Narcissism I think of the Greek God, Narcissus. I think of the Greek stories I had heard in high school of a how Narcissus was so beautiful that he fell in love with his own reflection, and not knowing it was a reflection he wasted away admiring his beauty. Understanding the myth of Narcissus, I was quite surprised at what Christopher Lasch described as The Culture of Narcissism, in his book: The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations. While Narcissus was self-centered, Lasch view narcissism of the 20^th century as someone who lacks self. It can be noted that the symptoms of this new examination of narcissism include, “a certain protective shallowness, a fear of binding commitments, a willingness to pull up roots whenever the need arose, a desire to keep one’s options open, a dislike of depending on anyone, and an incapacity for loyalty or gratitude” (239). This is quite a leap from the self-center narcissus prior to the 20^th century.

Lasch explains why the narcissist has evolved and where the evolution came from. Lasch believe that the narcissist of today is created by the society in which we live. Today’s society is one the put great importance on recognition, and success and less importance on friendship and love. Thus, the need for meaningful relationships becomes obsolete in our society because of the lack of reward obtained by maintaining the attachments. Thus, man becomes more about appeasing society and less about self-happiness. Therefore, individual forgo the need for relationship and work independently on achieving goals based on the society’s expectations. This constant pursuit for acceptance by the society give the narcissist new meaning because “the new narcissist is haunted not by guilt but by anxiety” (xvi). The narcissist is anxious to become one with society. According to Lasch individuals see themselves at the society and will only partake in task that reflect the goals of himself – meaning the goals of the society.

I find the information the Lasch provides very interesting. I think in today society we cannot look at an individual without first examining the society in which they live. The social norms and taboos are what drive most individual to act, dress, talk and love a certain way. Thus, I believe that the society creates the individual and in-turn creates the narcissist.