Courtesy of F.RdeC / Wikimedia Commons.
The Wheel retracts the below article because it is based off of an incorrect premise. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) fifth edition did not remove Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) from its catalog.
Attention everyone! Everybody look at me! There’s a new normal in town. You can read all about it on my Facebook page.
Several months ago I wrote an editorial decrying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual fifth edition (DSM-5) for its treatment of the autistic spectrum. I now return to said DSM-5 regarding the removal of narcissistic personality disorder from its catalog.
You may recall the original Narcissus of Greek mythology, who starved to death because he was unable to part with his reflection in a pond. He prefers bathroom mirrors now, if his Instagram account is any indication.
The DSM continually publishes revised editions for two reasons: firstly, it makes the American Psychiatric Association more money than does any other single source and, secondly, as social norms change, so too must the definitions of deviations from them.
This is the DSM’s job: to gauge what is and is not normal … with one major caveat.
Normal means functional, so regardless of what behaviors or symptoms one might display, technically the only way one can be said to have a disorder is if it impairs their performance. So as long as unreasonable self-importance was hurtful, it was a disorder. But it’s become functional, the new “healthy ego.” How did we get here? We rewarded it with a ‘like.’
Unlike in my previous editorial, I am not criticizing the DSM-5 itself for its revisions; instead, I am criticizing society for making this revision so justifiable. The so-called “selfie generation” has brought neediness to a new level, and we’ve let it happen. A colleague some time ago offered the very appropriate example of Kanye West: brash and egotistical but hugely successful. His fame is unimpeded by his self-importance and made greater in a world where interruptions and sex scandals get one name recognition in the industry rather than getting blacklisted. Self-absorption is, for the most part, no longer self-destructive.
At least, not to the individual; this is the country whose people learned the National Security Agency was spying on them and were flattered by the extra followers.
Self-absorption is, for the most part, no longer self-destructive.
I’m reminded of the old adage “if everyone’s special, then no one’s special,” but reapplied: if everyone’s narcissistic then no one’s narcissistic, because the term is now meaningless. Somewhere between ubiquitous participation trophies and trashy reality television we found ourselves in a post-narcissist world. I don’t care for it. And, to phrase it in a more post-narcissistic way, what does it say about Western society that the image obsessed, “Twitter famous” navel-gazer is our new mascot?
I realize that I am not the best person to volley this complaint. I’m not humble; I’m arrogant, even. I put down the next guy as much as the next guy. My speech is more verbose than the word “sesquipedalian” itself.
Also, not to force the point but it’s probably good that I have mirrors not far from the kitchen.
So the fact that this message is coming from me should be a statement in and of itself. The message is, we did this and we can undo it. Remember what social media was originally supposed to be about: interconnectedness.
The thing about narcissism or post-narcissism is that it requires one to acknowledge others but not to value them. Acknowledgement is insufficient for human connection, just like meaningless “likes” or halfhearted tweets. We are bombarded with so much to acknowledge, but what and who do we really value? Now there’s something to post about.
It’s not even the products and sites, really; it’s the mindset. iDoThis, iDoThat. So you can keep your profiles, your instagrams and your tweets. But, in an inversion of Kant’s categorical imperative, remember to use them always as means and never as ends. As in an improv showcase, always ask, “Yes, AND…?” Or perhaps just a simple, sincere “How are you?” instead of a “Here’s how I am.”
The DSM is a living document and you have no idea how important the little things will be to society’s state of mental health a generation from now.
Sam Ready is a College sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia.
