Individual differences in narcissistic behavior between Generation Me and their parents ELENI C. GKIKA, ALEXANDROS G. SAHINIDIS Department of Business Administration Technological Educational Institute of Athens 12210, Athens, Egaleo GREECE Gika.elena@yahoo.com Abstract: - One of the prevailing characteristics of new generations, especially Gen Me, has been the increase in self esteem and in narcissistic traits in their personality. The focus, compared to previous generations, has been transferred from others to the self. The attitudes and the skills of new generations have been affected, as a result. This study explores the differences, regarding the narcissistic behavior between university students of today and their parents, in Greece. The findings suggest significant differences in narcissism between different age groups. Key-Words: - Narcissism, Generation Me, self esteem, parenting style, NPI, age, gender. 1 Introduction Narcissism has its origins to Greek mythology where Narcissus, a handsome young man rejected the admiration of nymph Echo (she was cursed to only echo the sounds that others made) and he kept looking for “the best” romantic partner. Nemesis, the goddess of revenge decided to punish him. She led Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Narcissus died when he discovered that the object of his love cannot love him back. Narcissus was grandiose, arrogant and defended his self image of perfection; Echo was interested in others only as a means of regulating her fragile self esteem. Narcissus and Echo are two personality types, completely different but at the same time, they are two sides of the same coin: the failure to love oneself leading through one path or another to the inability to love others. 2 The construct of Narcissism Narcissism is a dynamic, socially defined construct with two key elements: a positive inflated and agentic view of the self and a self regulatory strategy to maintain and enhance this positive self view [1]. Narcissists believe that they are special and unique [2] and they seek to draw attention to their self [3] and they are fantasizing about fame [4]. They think they are more attractive and more intelligent that they actually are and that they are entitled to more positive outcomes in life than others [5]. They associate with high-status others in order to gain self esteem [6]. Their self-esteem is fragile although they have inflated self views. They compete with others and dominate them to succeed at their own ends, they claim responsibility for any success and they blame others for any failures. They are better on agentic traits (dominance, power, importance, physical attractiveness) but not at communal traits (caring, morality) [7], [8]. Narcissists are also linked to a number of positive emotional outcomes such as: positive affect, extraversion and short-term life satisfaction [9], [10]. They have enhanced performance on public evaluation missions, they show victories on competitive tasks, they take risks and they are overconfident. These benefits to the individual are primarily affective and evident in the short term. The costs to the narcissistic self occurs from addiction disorders narcissists usually have, such as alcohol abuse [11], pathological gambling [12] and compulsory shopping [13]. Except from the consequences to the individual, Narcissistic behavior bears costs to people around the narcissist. Narcissists avoid relationships with intimacy, commitment, selflessness and caring and they get involved in troubled romantic relationships [14]. They show low levels of empathy for others and their relationships are based to exploitation and domination of others. When they fail to win, they react badly and behave with aggression [15]. They tend to be spurred less by intrinsic motives and Recent Techniques in Educational Science ISBN: 978-1-61804-187-6 120