U-M study: Social media use can be linked to narcissism
When was the last time you posted a photo on Twitter?
If you're thinking "What's Twitter?" then you may yet be safe from the clutches of narcissism. You can go back to your cave now.
Social media use can be linked to narcissism, researchers say.
But if you've recently posted a "selfie" on Twitter —or on an Instagram account that's linked to your Twitter account... caught you!— then I've got bad news for you: there's a chance you're a narcissist.
University of Michigan researchers interviewed nearly 500 undergraduates and found that the narcissists in the group were more likely to be active Twitter users.
"Young people may over-evaluate the importance of their own opinions," said former U-M researcher and Ph.D. student Elliot Panek, in a news release. He conducted research with U-M scholars Yioryos Nardis and Sara Konrath.
"Through Twitter, they're trying to broaden their social circles and broadcast their views about a wide range of topics and issues."
Researchers interviewed 486 college students. The median age of the sample was 19 and three-fourths were female. Researches administered a personality assessment that evaluated a person's narcissism and found that participants who appeared to have a superior sense of self were likely to be active on Twitter.
Twitter, researchers said, is a platform for college-age students to voice their opinions. Panek likened it to a megaphone.Likewise, adults who scored high on a narcissism assessment were likely to be active on Facebook, where the goal is to curate an image and control how you are seen.
"Middle-aged adults usually have already formed their social selves, and they use social media to gain approval from those who are already in their social circles," Panek said, likening Facebook to a mirror.
U-M researchers interviewed 93 adults, mostly white women. The average age of an adult participate was 35. According to the U-M release, the study is among the first to compare the relationship between narcissism and social media use across ages.
The researchers were unable to say which came first, the chicken or the egg. In other words, does constant social media use breed narcissism or is it a symptom of the condition?
The study is published online in Computers in Human Behavior. The three researchers could not be immediately contacted for this article.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
rsa221
Thu, Jun 13, 2013 : 6:19 a.m.
I know someone on fb who has NPD, and he has 1000+ friends. I think number of "friends" might be the best indicator.
rsa221
Thu, Jun 13, 2013 : 6:20 a.m.
NPD = Narcisstic Personality Disorder
Sue
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 11:35 p.m.
It's nice to know our tax money is going to support important studies such as this.
BhavanaJagat
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 9:02 p.m.
Whole Dude - Whole Tweet: I opened my twitter account about seven days ago and my account got suspended just after three or four days of my use. I could not get a chance to post a photo. I am merely following four twitter accounts; the first named Thomas Jefferson, the second named J. Krishnamurti, the third Pope Benedict , and the fourth the Dalai Lama. Twitter notified me that they had to suspend my account as I am aggressively following. It appears that my narcissism has contributed to my aggressive twitter behavior. Is there a doctor who may provide a cure for my problem???
Geoff Larcom
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 12:52 p.m.
Q: What's it called when you too quickly rebroadcast someone else's unwise or inappropriate thoughts on Twitter? A: A hasty retweet.
RUKiddingMe
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 12:39 p.m.
I wonder what the percentage is of studies that produce either completely obvious or completely useless results, and the amount of money that goes into them.
NSider
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 12:25 p.m.
HA! Knew it all along. And the twits keep tweeting their worthless tweedle.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 4:29 a.m.
I like the one about the root word for Twitter is "twit." :-) There are already recognized diagnostic criteria for real narcissism. The "advent" and availability of some new technology may confirm some of these criteria but it's an add-on, not a "breakthrough" discovery. What puzzles me is why these new means of communication never seem to carry substantive or serious content. The people who use email (for example) the most are those who confine themselves to circulating the latest jokes - and some concentrate on "humor" that just "verifies" their political beliefs - a real "joke." OTH: the really interesting people I'd like to get frequent emails from turn out to be ... too busy to send many emails to anyone. Narcissism (aka, "neonarcissism") to me is when someone stands in a checkout lane or in line at a bank - totally "absorbed" in their conversation while others are kept waiting for them to hang up. Whatever happened to the phone conversation which ends with the phrase, "I have to hang up now, I'll get back to you after I'm done getting something real done." ??
Ann23
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 2:35 a.m.
SMH Most people I know are 'likely' to use facebook. Therefore most narcissists I know are 'likely' to use facebook. However, most of the people I know who use facebook are not likely to be narcissists, unless this article is missing a major part of the study. "Twitter, researchers said, is a platform for college-age students to voice their opinions. Panek likened it to a megaphone." I wonder what a similar study would find if the research was done on members of the media, politicians, clergy, teachers, principals, professional speakers, etc. Most people want approval and most people want to speak-up for what they believe in and voice their opinions. That isn't narcissism. Wanting approval does not equate to self-admiration and voicing your opinion and fighting for what matters does not equate to "Synonyms: vanity, self-love, self-admiration, self-absorption, egotism, conceit, self-importance, selfishness, self-centeredness" Also, isn't there already a 'chance' anybody could be a narcissist?
Ann23
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 3:10 a.m.
Ugh, I forgot to add researchers and professors to the similar study. But, here I am just writing and writing. I must be a narcissist since I am voicing my opinion publically. Or, maybe, I'm just fishing for compliments and likes. BTW, I think the like and dislike scoring of people's opinions is ridiculous. I actually prefer the facebook decision to do away with dislikes. If they are your friend don't dislike their pic or post, tell them why you disagree. Respectful dialogue and discussion and the expression of opinions is very important.
Ann23
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 2:41 a.m.
Sometimes people just enjoy having a way to share, be shared with, and communicate wit their friends and family in a way that is convenient. When your life is so busy that you otherwise wouldn't be able to.
cibachrome
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 2:01 a.m.
I include LinkedIn with the 'sociopaths'. The contests of 'who has more links' is never ending. Amazing how many people want to be linked that I have never heard of. Does the statement "A sophistical rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity, and gifted with an egotistical imagination that can at all times command an interminable and inconsistent series of arguments to malign an opponent and to glorify himself." pretty much describe the authors on this forum ?
SmokeStack Lightning
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 1:46 a.m.
This generation shall be known as the "ME-ME-ME"!! generation.
Steve
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 1:03 a.m.
I think research institutions should be penalized for coming up with the obvious..... Cmon, we already know this... what's the point of this study guys????
GoNavy
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 12:58 a.m.
Commenting on AA.com is narcissistic.
kingofannarbor
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 12:49 a.m.
Could they perform the same study on annarbor.com commenters?
Robert E.
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 4:19 a.m.
Good Lord...chill out people...its called a joke aka sarcasm...
Tim Hornton
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 1:30 a.m.
They don't need your checkbook Brad, they will get your tax dollars (or borrowed $ on the national debt) for "important" future social "science" studies.
Brad
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 1:01 a.m.
Sure. Just get out your checkbook and they will study anything.
Tim Hornton
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 12:43 a.m.
"A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back." Proverbs 29:11. I guess these researchers agree with what God said 3000 years ago. Touche UM, and touche to you Higher Education reporter for enlightening us.
Tim Hornton
Thu, Jun 13, 2013 : 1:39 a.m.
"A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Proverbs 15:23
Rose Garden
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.
Fabulous quote.
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 12:31 a.m.
Oh. for crying out loud.
Brad
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 11:58 p.m.
Twitter - because nobody should ever have an unexpressed thought.
zucker
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 11:26 p.m.
uh, really? we needed a study to prove that?
Karen
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 11 p.m.
Duhhhhh. Twitter is an abomination - who needs to know what your next random thought is? Look at the number of people who have ruined their careers by posting impulsively on Twitter. That's why I find it offensive that several professional societies that I belong to are aggressively pushing members to open accounts and use it. And now we have ample evidence that the federal government is recording everything on it. Not that they would use it against us, unless of course we are planning to start a conservative non-profit organisation that is perfectly legal, but which might cause the incumbent government some problems in the next election. No thanks.
Brad
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 10:10 p.m.
"Young people may over-evaluate the importance of their own opinions' Actually that afflicts people of all ages.
Brad
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 10:26 p.m.
Including people of my age :)
TinyArtist
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:29 p.m.
Narcissistic? Moi?
An Arborigine
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:18 p.m.
But seriously, how do I look?
Usual Suspect
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.
ORLY?
Robert E.
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:05 p.m.
So that's why there are so many "know-it-alls" who post on this site...its an attempt to compensate for deeply-rooted insecurities...wait I think I'm projecting that onto others...whoops! My bad...
Morris Thorpe
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 8:51 p.m.
My policy? Think about how often you're asked by anyone: what do *you* think? I don't know about the rest of you, but that question is seldom posed to me. So, no, I don't puke all my thoughts into twitter, FB, etc. At least I know no one cares. (this forum is anonymous, so I don't count this as narcissistic)
brian123
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:50 p.m.
Morris - agreed about this forum not counting as narcissistic, since it's anonymous. I think for many people (myself included), it's more simply cathartic than anything else to express your opinons on message boards.
towncryer
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:32 p.m.
Exactly. And even extrapolate that to anyone asking about your life, job, kids, etc...
Billy
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 8:39 p.m.
Once again....people got PAID to do a study like this...
NSider
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 12:29 p.m.
Is seeing ones' name on the cover page of a research paper an academic tweet? (and NO, no academician could keep their comment to 140 characters.) I think I need to do a research study of research papers. How do I get the grant?
vivian
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.
Billy, I agree: it IS sort of a dazzling glimpse of the obvious--we all knew already that people who think that the rest of the world is eager to read their every passing thought and to watch their daily lives unfold in status updates & photos are self-absorbed--but now that the conclusions are published, perhaps they'll get some serious attention. For whatever good THAT will do... On a positive note, I've noticed that a few of the brighter young folk of my acquaintance are beginning to express Facebook fatigue and Twitter boredom. Some of them even seem to be slowly coming to the recognition that living their lives in private rather than in public--what a concept!--may be desirable. Hope that trend continues. Maybe it will even rate a UM study one of these days.
djacks24
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:27 p.m.
Makes you wonder about throwing all this money at these grant proposals.
AA Neighbor
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 8:21 p.m.
And please note that the sidebar of this article is about the UM commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient--CEO of Twitter. At least the big U is out in the open on these occasions when it blesses the philistines who peddle their wares to unwary student narcissists and their pseudo-adult imitators.
mady
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.
"philistines", good one!
Dena
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 8:14 p.m.
Why doesn't this article surprise me?
John
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
Ya think? It will be the demise of the younger generations...
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 7:43 p.m.
What do you think about the chicken or the egg question? If social media use is linked to narcissism, is it a symptom or the root?
James
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 1:02 p.m.
An unsatisfied chicken looked across the pillow and saw a smug egg smirking and smoking a cigarette. "Well", said the chicken, "that answers that question..."
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 4:14 a.m.
Definitely symptom. Motive-means-opportunity. Social media furnish the last two but motivation always comes first. Of course, you knew that. ;-)
Ann English
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 11:50 p.m.
It's a symptom, all right. It's an outlet for for narcissists. I don't consider radio talk show hosts narcissists if they have Facebook pages. They don't talk about themselves much on their shows, which keeps the shows interesting.
This Post Doesn't Have A Name
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:53 p.m.
I believe social media is a symptom of narcissism, because it's been human nature since...since human nature has existed. But not everyone who uses social media, or this comments forum, is narcissistic. This is a form of self-expression--In My Humble Opinion.
brian123
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 9:46 p.m.
AA Neighbor - i love your last sentence, "The big concern is how much time we are wrapped up in its virtuality to the exclusion of more important things we are missing in the real world." For instance, whenever i'm out and about all i see is people taking photos and videos incessantly (e.g., a concert i just went to last week). Its like no one is really living in the present anymore, they just want to document they were there and move on....so they can later show their friends and reminisce about their "experiences". Pretty sad really.
AA Neighbor
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 8:31 p.m.
Perhaps the confusion comes from the term "social" media--it is just consumer media--and in the end the consumer always pays more than s/he intended for less than s/he hoped to acquire. First rule of consumer capitalism--keep them wanting more. It would be "social" if we created it, but we only buy it in the form of devices, apps, etc. The big concern is how much time we are wrapped up in its virtuality to the exclusion of more important things we are missing in the real world.
Aah
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 7:55 p.m.
It's a root from the self-esteem movement where children were taught that they could do no wrong. Social media feeds narcissism like throwing gasoline on fire.
Dog Guy
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
Shakespeare used "twit" twice in H VI referring to annoyance by self-absorbed fools. 500 University of Michigan undergraduates likely include more twits than Bertie Wooster's Club.
AA Neighbor
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 7:57 p.m.
That's great! The position of "court fool" was a paid job in Shakespeare's era. Today it's media types and celebrity broadcasters but with better pay for less dangerous work. What can we expect a bunch of copycat undergrads to do?
djacks24
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
What a surprise... Facebook is the 21st century root of all narcissism.
Kensington alum
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 7:33 p.m.
And in further news, Um researchers have discovered that the sun rises in the east, and when it rains you'll get wet if you're outside!
mady
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
Also, that dirt turns to mud in aforementioned rain......!
olddog
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 7:12 p.m.
I assume this include all of us who respond here. Guilty as charged
clownfish
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 7:11 p.m.
All people may over-evaluate the importance of their own opinions. Not sure if this blog would exist if we didn't. And I am not narcissistic, I have delusions of grandeur.