College may be considered a time for personal development, but concern is growing that the current generation of undergraduates is too self-involved.

Recent evaluations of college students’ responses to the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, commonly used to measure narcissism, indicate that today’s students have more narcissistic attitudes than previous generations.

But John Wade, outreach coordinator for Counseling and Psychological Services at Kansas University, says not all college students should be defined based on the conclusions of these studies.

“I think it is hard to make blanket statements based on articles like that,” he says. “Even if there is an increase in self-absorption, there’s also been an increase in volunteer rates with this population.”

Kristen Hanzlicek, a KU sophomore from Newton, says she noticed a difference between high school and college in the amount her peers talked about themselves. Still, she understands constant self-awareness comes with the environment.

“It seems like everyone is talking about themselves,” Hanzlicek says. “When you are introducing yourself to a lot of people, that is what happens. When you are getting to know people (in college), they talk about themselves a lot.”

Wade says some self-absorption is expected, even necessary, during college.

“In some ways, there probably are very few other times when focus is on the self,” Wade says. “There are lots of ways the purpose is to better oneself, where hopefully you do focus on improving oneself. I think when it becomes harmful you want a balance.”

Secret to success

Wade says it’s important to remember the difference between a person who is narcissistic and individuals with varying healthy levels of self-awareness.

“True narcissism, when it becomes a problem, is when it is rigid,” he says. “When it becomes a problem is when the person isn’t flexible, it interferes with relationships and interferes with a person’s life.”

Narcissism can become a serious problem. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies narcissism as a personality disorder, which is associated most strongly with a lack of empathy for others, a sense of “entitlement” and excessive ideas of “self-importance.”

Though there may be concern that narcissism or an inflated sense of self is unhealthy, Baker University junior Trevor Hedberg, of Topeka, says he thinks that type of attitude is one secret to his success.

“One of the values that is instilled in society is humility, but I’ve never bought into that so much,” Hedberg says. “I believe that if you don’t take pride in what you achieve, what is there to take pride in? Some feel they have to downplay various achievements; I don’t.”

But Hedberg admits this attitude is not always welcomed by others.

“I have a lot more, in some respects, to be proud of than other people, but in the same respects I know a lot of people are just as successful as me but they either don’t care or they don’t realize it,” Hedberg says. “Some people would say I blow it out of proportion from time to time because I will go out of my way to take pride in my accomplishments.

“I’m sure there are some people who don’t like it. They don’t really know me. I tend to present (my accomplishments) with a sense of humor. They take it as part of the total package.”

Taste of real life

Cassie Gilmore, assistant director of career development at Baker University, says she has noticed not necessarily narcissism, but an unhealthy sense of neediness or entitlement in some students she has tried to help get jobs.

“I don’t know if narcissism is the right word,” she says. “But I think the generation before was more independent. I think this generation is used to parents doing things for them, and when they are used to getting everything they need, they need those experiences continued when they go out and get a job.”

Gilmore says that dynamic creates difficulty for students when they leave college and begin dealing with people from other generations.

“People in the workforce believe you have to pay your dues and you aren’t going to have a corner office to start out,” Gilmore says. “That is one thing with all these kids trying to land jobs: They kind of scoff at jobs that could be really good experiences for them because they think they are a little better than they are. They could just really lose out on some opportunity.”

Still, Gilmore says that calling all college students narcissists is too strong a conclusion.

“I think once they get out of here and go on their first job hunt, they learn fast,” she says. “They just have to get a taste of what life outside of their parents’ house and life outside of college is like.

“I feel like the kids I deal with are very realistic, and if there is a student that I feel is borderline on these extremes, it is pretty easy to make them understand what is up.”

Not just about me

Wade says the key for retaining a healthy sense of self while in college is balance.

“I think I’d want to explore with the person (struggling with narcissism) how they are being perceived and how things are working for them interpersonally,” he says. “The more connected you are, the less likely you are to be narcissistic. The more interpersonal relations you have, that is a good experience because it is an opportunity for personal development.

“The more you are in different roles and not seeing yourself in the same way, a part of that is being a part of something greater than yourself.”

Hanzlicek said being more involved through volunteering and campus activities helped keep her less self-centered while in college.

“My personal belief is that everything I do isn’t about me,” she says. “I guess when you are around other people and if you are bragging about yourself in front of other people, you are bringing them down.

“If you are talking about yourself all the time, how are you supposed to make friends with other people?”