Egos inflating over time: a cross-temporal meta-analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory.
A cross-temporal meta-analysis found that narcissism levels have risen over the generations in 85 samples of American college students who completed the 40-item forced-choice Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) between 1979 and 2006 (total n=16,475). Mean narcissism scores were significantly correlated with year of data collection when weighted by sample size (beta=.53, p<.001). Since 1982, NPI scores have increased 0.33 standard deviation. Thus, almost two-thirds of recent college students are above the mean 1979-1985 narcissism score, a 30% increase. The results complement previous studies finding increases in other individualistic traits such as assertiveness, agency, self-esteem, and extraversion.
Twenge
Jean M
JM
Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4611, USA. jtwenge@mail.sdsu.edu
Konrath
Sara
S
Foster
Joshua D
JD
Campbell
W Keith
WK
Bushman
Brad J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009289:Narcissism; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States