A Prophet’s Diagnosis of a Self-Aggrandizing Generation

Christopher Lasch's prolific predictions turn true

There are times when an author seems to be holding a crystal ball into the future, so startlingly accurate that the hairs on your arm stand up. Christopher Lasch, a historian and cultural critic, does just that as he outlined societal trends decades before they appeared. Although his book, The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations, was written in 1979, it still feels extremely timely in our sociopolitical climate and provides analysis on current events, societal traits and politics. 

Lasch tells readers that the evolving requirements of industrial capitalism shifted the general personality type toward a mild form of clinical narcissism in the greater American public. It is apparent that many of our foundations for the definition of selfhood are rapidly slipping away as we learn to embrace artifice, performance and appearance over substance.

In Lasch’s time, the “me generation” was embarking upon its long trajectory. With the proliferation of social media and new cultural shifts in the last two decades, his ideas on individual and social narcissism make an appearance in many aspects of our lives. 

His dissection of American life, especially in regard to the disintegration of hope for improved posterity as the individual takes precedence, strikes largely accurate conclusions. In the past two decades, there has been an obvious increase in individuals seeking constant external validation. Making shockingly true predictions about the role of cameras and perception in our lives, Lasch describes our constant need to transcribe, record and publish life experiences into an echo chamber. He says: “We need no reminder to smile.”

We are constantly performing for social media. No goofy face, aesthetic meal or angry Karen is left uncaptured. Even when you yourself have perhaps sworn off media platforms, you are haunted by the ever-looming anticipation of being caught on film. Our generation posts pictures of parties they went to when they feel lonely, thirst traps in the midst of insecurity and pictures of their partner when in the middle of a fight. Validation is constantly sought as reassurance in short-term ways and becomes addictive as our narcissistic tendencies are fed. 

But the actual definition of narcissism in this context is not an excess of self-admiration; rather, self-hatred. It is here we find a constant emotional emptiness. Some seek to fill that emptiness with shallow relationships, hedonism and the manipulation of others. We are not only selfish, but we also seek superficiality instead of meaningful connection and purpose. In this, we fail at attempts to self-actualize. 

Many today search for false personal growth through fitness, self care, sexual liberation or other wellness trends, but these attempts turn out fruitless. We hope that by focusing on ourselves there will be a fulfillment of this emptiness – instead we get an iconography of the individual.

This heightening of the individual also extends to what Lasch deems “politics and theater,” as politicians become acts of spectacle and their audience the American public. Fueled by publicity rather than actual policy, politicians are obsessed with appearances as they gleefully participate in a game of gotcha. A viral tweet or a well-placed expression on TV are great for the viralization of their faces, but nothing seems to be put into action. The self promotion often takes precedence over what voters truly care about, and politician’s constant threats of crisis let their power grow even larger.

Lasch also threads political criticism throughout the book as he finds that politics have become a big reason for the current state of peoples’ shifting personality type. He blames both political parties for the weakening of community and emphasis on the individual, more specifically the right’s emphasis on unrestrained market forces and the left's rapid social progressivism. 

Just these few prescient notions have the reader second-guessing their own disposition. While much of this may seem like a negative outlook on the future of our general society, there is power in being able to examine some of our faults to better achieve a more stable and fulfilled population.

In a world full of endless ways to escape or be too obsessed with ourselves, an honest look at why we are the way we are can be a grounding experience. Although our issues might vary quite a bit from those of the 70’s, The Culture of Narcissism presents a great example of how certain trends can be seen far in advance. 

Are we a nation of narcissists? Maybe, maybe not. But it's important that we continue to critically examine ourselves and return to the key elements of fulfillment: love, family and sincere connection with others.