March 18, 2009 10:13 AM
Drew Pinsky on celebrity narcissism -
I've been using the terms narcissism and solipsism a lot recently - particularly in relation to our new president. Narcissism is a personality disorder that is based on childhood trauma. Perhaps it's because of the crumbling of family structure and diminishment of faith that our culture has become a cult of personality.
This is a must-read for parents and thoughtful citizens:
Celebrity narcissism: A bad reflection for kids
The
USA's celebrity-obsessed culture is causing us to become more
narcissistic, says behavior expert and physician Drew Pinsky, co-author
of The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism Is Seducing America.
It may be especially dangerous for young people, who view celebrities
as role models, say co-authors Pinsky (an internist better known on TV
and radio as Dr. Drew) and S. Mark Young, a social scientist. Pinsky
speaks with USA TODAY:Q: Let's begin with the title. What do you mean by the "mirror effect," and why do you say it's a problem?
A:
I've been working with celebrities many, many years. I've treated many
for chemical dependency and the like. They have profound childhood
trauma. It's not something to do with their job or the life they lead.
They just happen to be people driven to seek celebrity as a way to make
themselves feel better. Then the question becomes, why are we
preoccupied with this population? This points toward the mirror. We,
too, have been increasingly narcissistic. I speculate that that's what
drives us toward this phenomenon of elevating people to almost god-like
status. It's not so much that it's the glamour we like focusing on --
rather it's the dysfunction. We're taking someone who needs to be a god
and making them a god. Then we spend all our energy tearing them down.Q: Is there a difference between a narcissist and someone who has a true disorder?
A:
Narcissism is a continuum of traits. There is a point at which it
crosses into disorder. The traits are far more common. The disorder is
relatively uncommon.YOU'RE SO VAIN? Take the Narcissistic Personality InventoryQ: But isn't it healthy to have a strong ego?
A:
To feel good about oneself and want to see our reflected glory in
another person's eyes is not negative. There's a creative energy that
is very positive. But when it gets out of control, such as losing
empathy or acting out and not reflecting upon dysfunctional behavior,
that's when we have concerns.Read entire article here.
Laura Ingraham is interviewing Dr. Pinsky on her show this morning and it is fascinating. The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism Is Seducing America looks like a good book to reserve at the library.
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