A Back and Forth About Narcissism

The social-science journal Emerging Adulthood recently invited Jean M. Twenge and one of her most prominent critics, Jeffrey Arnett, to debate “whether today’s emerging adults are excessively ‘narcissistic,’ ” as Dr. Twenge asserts. Both wrote papers outlining their positions, then each wrote a reply to the other. Excerpts from the discussion follow.

DR. TWENGE Documenting trends in young people’s self-reported traits and attitudes is empirical research, not a complaint or a stereotype. Rising cultural individualism has both good consequences (more gender equality) and more negative ones (narcissism, mental health issues). Arnett seems to believe we should embrace studies of cultural change only if they find positive trends.

DR. ARNETT There is no persuasive evidence that scores on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory have risen among college students in recent decades. In any case, the N.P.I. is a dubious measure of narcissism, and college students are a dubious sample of emerging adults. There is evidence that today’s emerging adults have high expectations and are confident in their abilities, but these qualities should be seen as psychological resources during a life stage that is often difficult.

DR. TWENGE The evidence for rising

narcissism goes far beyond college students. In a nationally representative sample of 35,000 people, three times as many Americans in their 20s (compared to those in their 60s) experienced narcissistic personality disorder. This study examined

lifetime prevalence, not current symptoms; thus, the shift is due to generation, not age.

DR. ARNETT If narcissism has increased in recent decades among emerging adults, and if it is true that narcissism predicts “an array of negative outcomes,” then these negative outcomes should be abundantly evident in the lives of today’s emerging adults. In direct contradiction to

Twenge’s claims, rates of risk behavior have undergone a remarkable decline

in the past 20 years over a wide range of behaviors. At the same time, emerging adults today show unprecedented acceptance for people who are different from themselves and are participating in community service at record high rates.