By Jose Requena, NSNS Staff Writer

A recent study by five psychologists, contending that students have grown more self-centered between 1982 and 2006, has been the subject of much press of late. The Narcissistic Personality Inventory was given to 16,475 college students nationwide, and researchers found a 30% increase in the test’s narcissism scores between the study’s beginning and end. About two-thirds of students are scoring high in the NPI today.

Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University, the study’s lead researcher, is also the author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before. Narcissists, by her definition, lack empathy, are aggressive towards criticism, and favor self-promotion over altruism.

"We need to stop endlessly repeating 'You're special' and having children repeat that back," Twenge said in frequently reprinted quote. “Kids are self-centered enough as it is.”

Paul Watson, author of papers on narcissism and psychology professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, says it’s a complex issue. He cites the difference between mature self-esteem and immature self-esteem, saying the former is internalized and not dependent on others, while the latter depends on approval of others and is based on getting ahead. He agrees that there came a point where the “effort to build self confidence had gone too far."

Student reaction to the study has been mixed.

Michael Kraynak, a third-year University of Illinois Chicago student, thought the test was too simple to show big changes in youth culture. “For one thing, a college degree today isn’t the same thing it was 10, 20 years ago. Today it’s all but mandatory, in 10 years it’ll probably be a joke. There are more people going to college today.”

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, enrollment of 18–24 year olds into a degree-granting institution has gone up from 20% in 1970 to 41% in 2003. Students pointed out that increases in college enrollment lead to increased job market competition, a factor that they feel might contribute to their narcissistic appearance.

“There’s definitely more emphasis today on finding a job. More people competing for white collar jobs makes the job search more competitive,” says Elizabeth Camarosso, a first year Seton Hall student. “In conclusion, I miss the days of apprenticeships and women staying at home,” she jokes.

The study also noted that while students are doing more volunteer work today, more schools have made it a requirement. Marie Gilbert, a first year DePaul student, concedes: “I only do volunteer work when it is required for something, so I guess it's safe to say I do zero volunteer work. I do consider it, but when I think of the hours I could have spent at my real job where I get paid I immediately stop considering.”

Bradley Sklenar, a first year Robert-Morris College student, added the fact that today’s culture is more desensitized to certain things. “We have more information, faster cars, bloodier movies, and stronger drugs than past college students. We see the rest of the world and anything we want on the internet. What did they think was going to happen?”

David Favela, a third year University of Illinois Chicago student majoring in Math, responds, “It really comes down to whether we’re just what the media wants us to be or whether the media is already pandering to what we are. I don’t know the answer. I’m sure it’s more complicated than anyone cares to see.”