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"the Culture Of Narcissism" By Christopher Lasch - Politics - Nairaland

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"the Culture Of Narcissism" By Christopher Lasch by Ikengawo: 2:35pm On Sep 30, 2010
The theory.
Cultural narcissism
In The Culture of Narcissism,[21] Christopher Lasch defines a narcissistic culture as one in which every activity and relationship is defined by the hedonistic need to acquire the symbols of wealth, this becoming the only expression of rigid, yet covert, social hierarchies. It is a culture where liberalism only exists insofar as it serves a consumer society, and even art, sex and religion lose their liberating power.
In such a society of constant competition, there can be no allies, and little transparency. The threats to acquisitions of social symbols are so numerous, varied and frequently incomprehensible, that defensiveness, as well as competitiveness, becomes a way of life. Any real sense of community is undermined—or even destroyed—to be replaced by virtual equivalents that strive, unsuccessfully, to synthesize a sense of community.

I think own own society is suffering for what is being described in this book.
a culture that looses its sense of humanity due to an obsessive lust for power and wealth which are seen on an individual basis as means to validates one's worth.

the result is a society where people are obsessed with personal gain to the point where collective gain or the gain of others is totally irrelevant to the individual. This culture also causes a deepened sense of superior self worth in people that finally do acquire this wealth and in my opinion creates and insensitive, self absorbed, elitist, and hostile upper class.


In other words becoming rich in this culture gives people Narcissistic Personality Disorder. If you dont believe me, read the symptoms of this mental disorder and think about our elites if not selves.


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).
Rarely acknowledges mistakes and/or imperfections
Requires excessive admiration
Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
Lacks empathy: is unwilling or unable 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
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitude.





They say causes of the personality disorder in individuals relates to the relationship a child has with parents and more specifically, praise from parents or fear of shame.


for example. Narcissists are created when parents are overtly boastful of their child's achievements and overtly critical of their child's short comings (TYPICAL nigerian parent behavior, the one thing all our parents have in common)

Narcissists are also created when our parents are praise our positive features too much (constantly praising a child's looks or height ect.)

and most of all, narcissists are created when a child is made to feel as if he/she is in some way naturally ''not good enough" to be excepted by others. Therefore, they spend their entire life obsessive over hiding what is making them 'not good enough' and on the outside appear to others are trying to be 'perfect' and without flaw. The fear of rejection due to people acknowledging their 'flaw' is so intense that hiding the 'flaw' and appearing flawless is the goal of life, which impedes normal thinking, ones ability to have healthy relationships, and ones values and behavior.


the number ones tell tell sign of someone suffering from this disorder is a distinct inability to accept criticism. when a 'flaw' is brought up, whom ever brings up the 'flaw' is suddenly viewed as an enemy threatening the life of the personal with the mental disorder and there response to the criticism is overtly defensive, overtly offensive, and all around excessive.





think about that.

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Re: "the Culture Of Narcissism" By Christopher Lasch by Ikengawo: 2:50pm On Sep 30, 2010
my theory then is the nigerian mentality is actually a result of a high prevalence of narcissists in our society, an abnormally high prevalence which is rooted in our well broadcasted culture of parents using children as a means of validating their own ego.

children in nigerian society are often seen as pawns for reflecting a parents own narcissistic need to appear perfect.

Nigerian parents therefore overtly praise a child's 'good' achievements.
ex: bring a child out infront of a company of adults to flaunt a good grade or particular talent
ex: overt bragging to others about a child's achievements


on the other hand, when a child fails to boost the ego of their parents, our parents are notorious for not sparing a word in making the child feel low or 'not good enough'.

ex: if a daughter is ugly, nigerian parents commonly let her know it, and often mothers are harsh on their daughters
ex: if a child is not performing up to a par set by his parents (often unrealistic), he or she is blasted with verbal and physical violence and constant torment or pressure until the child reaches 'par'









this method of child raising in my opinion isn't 'good' or 'bad'. I dont believe in 'good' and 'bad' as absolutes.

what is has done is given us the nigeria we have today. the culture of narcissism. On an individual basis, we are the highest achievers in the world. No known field of measuring excellence is free from a nigerian presence, but as a collective, our mentality keeps us from working together and has created everything we love about ourselves and hate about each other.




simply put the way our parents treat us is why nigeria is nigeria and nigerians are nigerians. We can't get rid of one without the other. If our society is less narcissistic we could achieve more collectively but there will be a lot more 'f.&cuk ups' on an individual basis.










this is something that has always struck me about white ppl. collectively they work great together compared to us. but individually they're some of the most educated illiterates, dafts and useless people i've ever encountered. Little to no ambition, no discipline, a stark inability to understand anything outside of a specific mundane interest like sports or collecting rocks.

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Re: "the Culture Of Narcissism" By Christopher Lasch by Olorikiki: 12:29am On Feb 26, 2020
I have dated Nigerians for the past 5 years and it has been the most frustrating time of my life. I even went to a Nigerian church because I love their giving hearts and passion for God. But I soon found out how they, all the elders felt about my ppl the black Americans. They at church act as if they are perfect and better than me. And they talk down to who ever isn't Nigerian. And dating a Nigerian has been one of my most painful experience. I just kept thinking God, why did you bring such difficult people in my life, they have no empathy no reasoning. They are impossible to talk to. I mind as well talk to a brick wall and pull out my hair. I use to think ,oh these people are on fire for God, when this is just a culture thing. They all believe in God and speak in an authoritive type of way... It means nothing. Some have lied in my face while speaking the word of God. To marry a Nigerian will be hell on earth because it is impossible to talk to someone who KNOWS IT ALL ALREADY .

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