By Chris Barry, professor of psychology
Most of my research has been in the area of adolescent narcissism, as well as the connection between narcissism and social media activity. The topic of adolescent narcissism drew my interest due to several paradoxes that have been discussed in the past about youth self-perception and self-esteem, as well as the inclusion of narcissism in the psychopathy construct—an area I had previously researched. Additionally, I find the unique aspects of adolescent development intriguing, as they suggest that narcissism may be a normal part of being an adolescent and can even be adaptive in some ways.
After conducting research in this area and reviewing the work of colleagues with similar interests, we have arrived at several core findings:
- Adolescent narcissism tends to fall along a normal distribution, meaning that most teens do not necessarily exhibit extreme levels of narcissism, and narcissism tends to decline somewhat as we get older.
- Narcissism during adolescence is linked to aggression, delinquent behavior, and self-reported anxiety and depression, depending on the specific characteristics of narcissism.
- Adolescents with narcissistic traits may be perceived negatively by their peers as manipulative, difficult to get along with, and likely to engage in future delinquency. However, they may also be viewed as competitive and good leaders.
- Narcissism is not necessarily linked to the frequency or type of social media posts. However, certain social media posts, such as selfies, may be associated with a perception of narcissism among unfamiliar viewers.
As we continue to conduct research, we expect to gain more clarity and nuance on these issues.