La personnalité narcissique devient-elle plus fréquente ? Fait culturel ou fait clinique ?

Abstract

Among the traits of personality, narcissistic personality traits appear to become more frequent, this is reinforced by characters highlighted by the media or TV reality shows. The study of narcissistic traits of students who integrate the large universities of the United States shows an increase of narcissistic aspects over the years. ObjectiveIt aims to study the inter-generational differences of the narcissistic traits using 16 items narcissistic personality inventory: NPI 16. MethodIt is a study “snowball”; it uses social networks; NPI 16 is sent to a population of subjects of 20 to 30 years and they must complete and propose this questionnaire to at least one of their relatives of the higher generation or age 55 to 70 years. ResultsOne hundred and twenty-one subjects, average age 26 years, make up the generation of young subjects, 74 topics, and average age 60, composed the greater generation. These are men over 60 years with a higher level of study of type “PhD” who has narcissistic traits scores the higher. DiscussionIn addition to recruitment bias, which promotes an academic environment and familiar subjects with computer tools, this study shows that the narcissistic traits can be different according to generations. The fact that men are more exposed may reflect a form of selection of personality traits relevant to the progression in the career ladder. Subsequent studies on larger samples and more diversified social origin will allow better to deepen this phenomenon.