Contrary to the common belief that collectivist societies suppress the self, many of them show high levels of narcissism. Researchers assume that the desire for excellence in these cultures is seen as adding a necessary vitality and a touch of individuality to dominance, and narcissistic traits may help individuals adapt to stricter social structures. Young people were more narcissistic regardless of culture. Thus, patterns emerged that contradict some deep-rooted assumptions. Germany, Iraq, China, Nepal, and South Korea topped the list of the most narcissistic countries, while Serbia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Denmark were at the bottom. As one researcher put it, young people everywhere tend to focus on the self and believe in their own superiority until life teaches them a harsh lesson that makes them back away from the idea of superiority over others. Problems arise when self-love turns into a defense mechanism against insecurity and disappointment. Participants were asked to rank their perceived social status and answer statements such as 'I wish my competitors would fail' and 'I can be the center of attention thanks to my outstanding contributions.' A new large-scale study by the University of Michigan sought to answer a question that has puzzled humanity since we first saw ourselves in the mirror: who is the most vain? The researchers published their findings in the journal 'Self and Identity,' analyzing data from over 45,000 people in 53 countries. They found that narcissism—defined as an excessive need for admiration and an inflated self-image—varies greatly among cultures, age groups, and genders. Men consistently scored higher than women, and young people outperformed older adults in most cases, suggesting that the feeling of being a gift to the world before life robs it of its beauty and vitality is a universal feeling. The study did not diagnose narcissistic personality disorder but rather measured its everyday traits distributed across a wide spectrum. Psychologists point out that a reasonable level of self-esteem is normal. The United States came in at a relatively modest 16th place. Countries with high GDP tend to show higher levels of narcissism. But the real surprise was the collectivist countries.
