“Humilitas”: A Saturday Afternoon Book Review

Today, I would like to introduce the “Saturday Afternoon Book Review,” a new series highlighting little-known books that offer valuable and often challenging insights into subjects that are sorely in need of genuine theological reflection.  I begin with John Dickson’s 2011 release, entitled Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love and Leadership.

As I recently made my way through this slim, yet highly engaging, volume on the subject of humility, I was struck by one overwhelmingly convicting thought.  This virtue, which in many ways encapsulates the “fruits of the spirit”[1] described by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians, has largely disappeared in today’s society.  As the secular culture continues to promote thinking and behaviors that veer dangerously close to narcissism, the modern church has likewise adopted a similar culture whereby successful leaders and pastors are often given a pass on this characteristic so long as they can skillfully construct a wide-ranging ministry that is financially robust and openly admired.

But the interesting thing about Dickson’s book is that it does not pit humility against success or growth.  Instead, it tries to make the argument that humility is often one of the most important characteristics of those people that have historically achieved the loftiest of goals.  In other words, while people seem to be able to construct “empires” that “succeed” over a short period of time, very few construct anything lasting or memorable unless they are grounded first by the belief that it is not the individual that matters.

What a clarion call in an Enlightened society and church that seems ever more interested in elevating the glory of the individual over the needs of the community.

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[1] The fruits of the Spirit are defined in Galatians 5:22-23 as follows: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

 

Kids Don’t Raise Themselves: The Narcissism Epidemic … (part 4)

As we continue to explore the rise of narcissism in North American society, we have to realize that this growth in self-obsession is not happening in a vacuum.  There are an abundance of factors involved in fostering this national quagmire, perhaps none more significant than the changes that have occurred in our attitudes regarding parenting.

In their latest book, The Narcissism Epidemic, Twenge and Campbell offer some unique insights gleaned from a large, national study that dates all the way back to 1958.  In this study, parents were asked the following question: “If you had to choose, which thing on this list would you pick as the most important for a child to learn to prepare him (or her) for life?”  The options were as follows:

• “To obey”
• “To be well-liked or popular”
• “To think for himself or herself”
• “To work hard”
• “To help others when they need help”

The first thing to note, from of this study, is that parents’ greatest desire for their children has not changed from 1958 to 2004.  Over the past half-century, parents consistently prioritize a child’s ability “to think for themselves.”  This is not terribly surprising, for personal autonomy is one of the supreme values endorsed by the Enlightenment.  And if America is anything at all, it is, at bare minimum, a living, breathing experiment in Enlightenment values.

Somewhat more surprising is the trend related to obedience.  Take a look at the graph below:

Back in 1958, obedience was the second greatest virtue amongst this list of desirable traits to be possessed by one’s child.  But by 2004, obedience has declined by 15% to an all-time low, where it now ranks second to last.

What do you think?  Is it possible to maintain an orderly home where obedience is not valued?  What about a society?  Is it possible for society to function if obedience is no longer a virtue?  And lastly, what can we reasonably expect in a society where narcissism is on the rise, at the same time that obedience, as a taught virtue, is on the decline? 

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For previous posts in this series, please feel free to make use of any of the following links.

Greater than Jesus: The Narcissism Epidemic … (part 3)

The Narcissism Epidemic … (part 2)

The Narcissism Epidemic … (part 1)

 

 

Greater than Jesus: The Narcissism Epidemic … (part 3)

According to a recent Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey, 93% of Americans view themselves in a positive light.  Concurrently, only 1% of Americans view themselves negatively.[1]

Dean Debnam, the president of PPP, had this to say: “Americans have a very high opinion of themselves.  You can either argue that we’re a psychologically healthy nation … or you can argue that we’re an arrogant one. Either interpretation fits the numbers.”

Incidentally, 91% of Americans have a positive view of Abraham Lincoln while only 90% have a favorable view of Jesus.  This of course leads to the conclusion:

[1]  http://www.christianpost.com/news/jesus-second-most-popular-person-in-america-poll-finds-63140/

 

“The Narcissism Epidemic” … (part 2)

In their book, The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement, authors Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell argue that narcissistic behavior is on the rise in our society.  But what does that mean?  How can we measure what is largely an interior belief?  Is there a way to actually quantify “an inflated view of oneself?”

Many psychologists believe that there is.  In the late 1970s, two professors, working out of UC-Berkley, developed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI).  The most common version of this inventory pairs 40 narcissistic statements with 40 non-narcissistic statements.  The respondent is then asked to choose which statement best describes his or her personality.  For your own amusement (or edification), click the picture below and take the test.  Don’t worry, it’ll only take two minutes; and I’ll be right here when you get back.

Well, what did you think?  Kind of interesting, wasn’t it?  Now that you know how it works, I want to show you a graph that displays the results of college students, who took the test, from 1982 to 2006.   Here it is:

Now remember, a score between 12 and 15 is considered to be average.  A score around 18 is how a celebrity typically views him or herself; and a score that is 20 or above is considered to be “narcissistic.”   In order to be diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), a person would score above 20 on this index and would possess five or more of the following traits.

• Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
• Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
• Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
• Requires excessive admiration
• Has a very strong sense of entitlement, e.g., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
• Is exploitative of others, e.g., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
• Lacks empathy, e.g., is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
• Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
• Regularly shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

At present, only 1 in 4 college students are technically “narcissistic.”  But if the trend continues to progress at its current rate, we are looking at a future – only 20 years from now! – where the “average” student will live their day-to-day life as an operational narcissist.

 

“The Narcissism Epidemic” … (part 1)

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing various observations gleaned from a wonderful, recent study entitled, The Narcissism Epidemic.  According to dictionary.com, “narcissism” is “an inordinate fascination with oneself.”  From the same source, an “epidemic” is an affliction that affects a “disproportionately large number of individuals within a population.”  So in titling their book as they have, Jean M. Twenge and W. Keith Campbell are suggesting that a disproportionate segment of our society is currently suffering from a distorted sense of self-image that is marked by a pronounced fascination with one’s own being.

Now, to get us going, let me offer you two brief insights gleaned from the first chapter of the book.  Then I want to ask a question.

• From the 1980s to the present, the percentage of Americans possessing Narcissitic personality traits has risen as fast as percentage of society that struggles with obesity.
• In 2006, 1 out of every 4 college students possessed a majority of the traits listed in a standard psychological profile of narcissism.

So here is my question.  Why are we, as Americans, concerned about obesity, but relatively ignorant and/or unconcerned about narcissism?  

The Narcissism Epidemic is currently available through amazon.com for $10.87.