0:00:06.560,0:00:08.681 Way before the first selfie, 0:00:08.681,0:00:10.883 the ancient Greeks and Romans had a myth 0:00:10.883,0:00:14.605 about someone a little too obsessed [br]with his own image. 0:00:14.605,0:00:15.895 In one telling, 0:00:15.895,0:00:20.779 Narcissus was a handsome guy wandering[br]the world in search of someone to love. 0:00:20.779,0:00:23.235 After rejecting a nymph named Echo, 0:00:23.235,0:00:26.709 he caught a glimpse [br]of his own reflection in a river, 0:00:26.709,0:00:28.511 and fell in love with it. 0:00:28.511,0:00:30.116 Unable to tear himself away, 0:00:30.116,0:00:31.944 Narcissus drowned. 0:00:31.944,0:00:37.040 A flower marked the spot of where he died,[br]and we call that flower the Narcissus. 0:00:37.040,0:00:40.391 The myth captures [br]the basic idea of narcissism, 0:00:40.391,0:00:44.180 elevated and sometimes [br]detrimental self-involvement. 0:00:44.180,0:00:48.274 But it's not just a personality type[br]that shows up in advice columns. 0:00:48.274,0:00:52.966 It's actually a set of traits classified[br]and studied by psychologists. 0:00:52.966,0:00:58.772 The psychological definition of narcissism[br]is an inflated, grandiose self-image. 0:00:58.772,0:01:02.119 To varying degrees, narcissists think[br]they're better looking, 0:01:02.119,0:01:02.973 smarter, 0:01:02.973,0:01:05.233 and more important than other people, 0:01:05.233,0:01:08.011 and that they deserve special treatment. 0:01:08.011,0:01:12.767 Psychologists recognize two forms[br]of narcissism as a personality trait: 0:01:12.767,0:01:15.889 grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. 0:01:15.889,0:01:18.406 There's also narcissistic [br]personality disorder, 0:01:18.406,0:01:22.066 a more extreme form,[br]which we'll return to shortly. 0:01:22.066,0:01:25.801 Grandiose narcissism [br]is the most familiar kind, 0:01:25.801,0:01:27.789 characterized by extroversion, 0:01:27.789,0:01:28.956 dominance, 0:01:28.956,0:01:30.531 and attention seeking. 0:01:30.531,0:01:33.812 Grandiose narcissists pursue [br]attention and power, 0:01:33.812,0:01:35.457 sometimes as politicians, 0:01:35.457,0:01:36.457 celebrities, 0:01:36.457,0:01:38.290 or cultural leaders. 0:01:38.290,0:01:42.636 Of course, not everyone who pursues[br]these positions of power is narcissistic. 0:01:42.636,0:01:44.406 Many do it for very positive reasons, 0:01:44.406,0:01:46.082 like reaching their full potential, 0:01:46.082,0:01:48.491 or helping make people's lives better. 0:01:48.491,0:01:50.777 But narcissistic individuals seek power 0:01:50.777,0:01:53.773 for the status [br]and attention that goes with it. 0:01:53.773,0:01:57.919 Meanwhile, vulnerable narcissists[br]can be quiet and reserved. 0:01:57.919,0:01:59.833 They have a strong sense of entitlement, 0:01:59.833,0:02:02.793 but are easily threatened or slighted. 0:02:02.793,0:02:07.061 In either case, the dark side of[br]narcissism shows up over the long term. 0:02:07.061,0:02:09.991 Narcissists tend to act selfishly, 0:02:09.991,0:02:14.376 so narcissistic leaders may make risky[br]or unethical decisions, 0:02:14.376,0:02:19.144 and narcissistic partners may be dishonest[br]or unfaithful. 0:02:19.144,0:02:21.680 When their rosy view of themselves[br]is challenged, 0:02:21.680,0:02:24.223 they can become resentful and aggressive. 0:02:24.223,0:02:27.184 It's like a disease where the sufferers[br]feel pretty good, 0:02:27.184,0:02:29.505 but the people around them suffer. 0:02:29.505,0:02:30.918 Taken to the extreme, 0:02:30.918,0:02:34.208 this behavior is classified [br]as a psychological disorder 0:02:34.208,0:02:36.964 called narcissistic personality disorder. 0:02:36.964,0:02:39.927 It affects one to two percent[br]of the population, 0:02:39.927,0:02:41.506 more commonly men. 0:02:41.506,0:02:44.664 It is also a diagnosis [br]reserved for adults. 0:02:44.664,0:02:48.145 Young people, especially children,[br]can be very self-centered, 0:02:48.145,0:02:51.491 but this might just be a normal[br]part of development. 0:02:51.491,0:02:54.772 The fifth edition of the American[br]Psychiatric Association's 0:02:54.772,0:02:57.311 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 0:02:57.311,0:03:01.858 describes several traits associated[br]with narcissistic personality disorder. 0:03:01.858,0:03:04.778 They include a grandiose view of oneself, 0:03:04.778,0:03:06.157 problems with empathy, 0:03:06.157,0:03:07.773 a sense of entitlement, 0:03:07.773,0:03:10.804 and a need for admiration or attention. 0:03:10.804,0:03:13.542 What makes these trait a true[br]personality disorder 0:03:13.542,0:03:17.889 is that they take over people's lives[br]and cause significant problems. 0:03:17.889,0:03:21.097 Imagine that instead of caring[br]for your spouse or children, 0:03:21.097,0:03:24.429 you used them as a source[br]of attention or admiration. 0:03:24.429,0:03:26.102 Or imagine that instead of seeking 0:03:26.102,0:03:28.408 constructive feedback [br]about your performance, 0:03:28.408,0:03:30.797 you instead told everyone [br]who tried to help you 0:03:30.797,0:03:32.908 that they were wrong. 0:03:32.908,0:03:35.230 So what causes narcissism? 0:03:35.230,0:03:37.969 Twin studies show [br]a strong genetic component, 0:03:37.969,0:03:41.023 although we don't know [br]which genes are involved. 0:03:41.023,0:03:42.895 But environment matters, too. 0:03:42.895,0:03:45.240 Parents who put their child[br]on a pedestal 0:03:45.240,0:03:47.789 can foster grandiose narcissism. 0:03:47.789,0:03:53.050 And cold, controlling parents[br]can contribute to vulnerable narcissism. 0:03:53.050,0:03:55.259 Narcissism also seems to be higher 0:03:55.259,0:03:59.429 in cultures that value individuality[br]and self-promotion. 0:03:59.429,0:04:01.170 In the United States, for example, 0:04:01.170,0:04:05.902 narcissism as a personality trait[br]has been rising since the 1970s, 0:04:05.902,0:04:07.991 when the communal focus of the 60s 0:04:07.991,0:04:10.150 gave way to the self-esteem movement 0:04:10.150,0:04:12.633 and a rise in materialism. 0:04:12.633,0:04:17.078 More recently, social media has multiplied[br]the possibilities for self-promotion, 0:04:17.078,0:04:18.371 though it's worth noting 0:04:18.371,0:04:22.191 that there's no clear evidence[br]that social media causes narcissism. 0:04:22.191,0:04:27.764 Rather, it provides narcissists a means[br]to seek social status and attention. 0:04:27.764,0:04:31.235 So can narcissists improve [br]on those negative traits? 0:04:31.235,0:04:32.474 Yes! 0:04:32.474,0:04:35.450 Anything that promotes honest reflection[br]on their own behavior 0:04:35.450,0:04:37.104 and caring for others, 0:04:37.104,0:04:42.116 like psychotherapy or practicing [br]compassion towards others, can be helpful. 0:04:42.116,0:04:44.172 The difficulty is it can be challenging 0:04:44.172,0:04:46.712 for people with [br]narcissistic personality disorder 0:04:46.712,0:04:48.911 to keep working at self-betterment. 0:04:48.911,0:04:53.763 For a narcissist, self-reflection is hard[br]from an unflattering angle.