Michigan State Prof Says Teenage Narcissists Will Grow Out Of It

We've all heard it or thought it: American teenagers are getting more and more narcissistic. Everyone's probably run into somebody they think is a narcissist - defined as "being full of yourself, sensitive to criticism and imposing your opinion on others," whether it's your own kid, a family member or somebody you deal with through work. According to MSU Today, William Chopik, associate professor of psychology at Michigan State, decided to research the idea that "generations are getting more and more narcissistic." He and his fellow researchers found something you may have suspected. At an early age you might think you're "all that." And then, as you get older, you discover "that you’re not as awesome as you once thought." The reason? “There are things that happen in life that can shake people a little bit and force them to adapt their narcissistic qualities,” Chopik said.

And one of the things that changes that behavior is landing a first job. Everything changes when you find out you don't know as much as the people who have been doing the job for twenty years, right?

This research, published in Psychology and Aging, is part of the longest study on narcissism to date. And if you think teenagers are full of themselves these days, check this out from Professor Chopik: “One of the most surprising findings was that – also contrary to what many people think – individuals who were born earlier in the century (I'm assuming last century) started off with higher levels of hyper-sensitivity, or the type of narcissism where people are full of themselves, as well as willfulness, which is the tendency to impose opinions on others."

So, parents - don't sweat it, you were probably the same way.

Kids - get ready for the real world - and bills.

And Grandpa - tell me some stories. I bet you were awesome, dude. Here's the story.