Saturday’s Big Idea

Today's Big Idea: On Narcissism

Andrew Cohen argues that we are conditioned to be narcissists in our culture today.

While some stages of narcissism are healthy, and narcissism may even be a quality we look for in a leader, there are costs to what Cohen describes as "a culturally conditioned epidemic."

So how do we break out of our own condition of narcissism?

The first place to start is assessing yourself, and to that end, Big Think offers two tests. The first is called Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), which you can find here. The second assessment involves assessing the way other people treat you, namely, your boss.

Is your boss a megalomaniac? Take that test here.

Me All the Time: The Epidemic of Narcissism

by Daniel Honan

Andrew Cohen says narcissism is a culturally conditioned epidemic. How is it harmful and how can we break out of it?

The Narcissistic Leader: Not as Good as He (Or You) May Think

by Maria Konnikova

In most circumstances, narcissism doesn’t go over well. But there’s one big exception to the rule: leadership.

I Learned More About Sex When I Gave It Up . . .

by Andrew Cohen

Without feeling like the victim of my own lust, I experienced freedom for the first time in my life.

Is Your Boss a Megalomaniac?

by Daniel Honan

Why is megalomania, the close cousin of narcissism, so often found in people holding positions of power, including, perhaps, your boss?

Extreme Biology

Saturday’s Big Idea

Today's Big Idea: On Narcissism