By Thompson Perry
In the 16th century, Copernicus proposed the earth revolved around the sun, rather than vice versa.
Today, approximately 500 years later, a recent study shows that college students nationwide envision a different center of the universe, themselves.
Today’s crop of college students are significantly more narcissistic than those in years past, according to a recent study, conducted by five esteemed psychologists, at San Diego University.
It began by polling students in 1982. There were 16,475 college students across the country who responded to the questionnaire known as the Narcissistic Personality Inventory.
According to the results published earlier this month, the current generation of college students represents the most narcissistic in recent history.
A relatively simple study, one which college students nationwide were asked to respond to statements such as, “If I ruled the world, it would be a better place” and “I think that I am a special person.”
When compared to the responses recorded at the study’s inception in 1982, the results are alarming.
Today’s generation of students can claim a 30 percent increase in the number of students with above-average scores.
The origin of this self-absorption is debatable.
Among those doing the study, it is believed the evolution of parenting and the proliferation of popular psychology amongst the general population have triggered this trend.
The study itself identifies one of the roots of the problem as what it refers to as the “self-esteem movement of the 1980s.”
“I remember in kindergarten, singing a song called ‘Because I’m Special’ every day,” said Pat Sanders, junior biology major, “and it was all about how each kid has some special quality that no one else has. I know that it was meant to raise self-esteem, but it may have done too good of a job.”
Could it be this well-intentioned effort and others like it by parents and teachers may have tainted many current college students’ views of reality, self-worth and their own role within the world?
“I don’t think that my generation is especially conceited or smug, though,” Sanders said.
“I feel like we’re all just at a certain age where we want to do what feels good and not worry about consequences.
“This is our time to be out on our own and discover ourselves and decide who we want to be for the rest of our lives, so it makes sense that we’re a little more focused on ourselves.”
Though introspection may partially explain the increase in narcissism among students, there are many other theories on the subject.
Impartial observers offer different perceptions of how college students have changed in the last quarter-century; some point to an increased sense of entitlement that seems to thrive on college campuses.
“In general, [many students today] think that learning should not be difficult,” said Dr. Michael Cunningham, psychologist and professor of communication at U of L.
“If a course is difficult, the problem lies within the professor or the course rather than within the student,” said Cunningham.
Part of the reason for the strengthened sense of entitlement may be the steady lowering of standards to which students are held in middle and high school.
The average high school GPA increased from 2.68 to 2.94 between 1990 and 2000, according to the study, “Profile of Undergraduates in U.S. Postsecondary Institutions: 1999-2000.”
GPAs reported by students when they take the SAT and ACT exams have also risen – much faster than their scores on those tests.
This study suggests that classroom grades are rising not because students are getting smarter, but because the coursework is getting easier and standards are getting lower.
“Narcissism is a continuum; most students are not narcissistic,” said Cunningham, “but, as this study shows, the mean for narcissism among college students is rising.”
