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GravitasMag.com | 63 Or that one woman we worked with who was constantly gazing in the mirror, fixing herself up, just wishing to get some attention from the opposite sex. At the time, we probably thought of those people as self-absorbed, perhaps selfish and maybe even narcissistic. But in 2014, with the rising popularity of new mediums such as social media and superficial reality TV shows that promote these traits, are we becoming a narcissistic nation? Before we can decide this, we have to ask, what makes someone a narcissist? While there is no way to determine exactly how people become narcissists, these traits are believed to be developed during childhood, and can manifest into mild to extreme narcissism throughout adulthood. Mild narcissists may come across as selfish, self-centered, or overly cocky about their looks and abilities. Similarly, people who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) appear to be overly confident on the outside, exaggerate their accomplishments, and are often thirsty for admiration. However, while these people may appear to have it going on, Dr. Richard Day, professor of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior at McMaster University explains that on the inside, they may feel quite the opposite. "Narcissistic behavior," he explains, "can be seen either as a projection of false, but strongly held, beliefs about one's superiority to others, or as a screen to mask barely conscious, or truly unconscious, feelings and fears of inferiority and lack of worth." Since it is believed that these traits stem from a strained relationship with ones primary caregivers as children, as these torn children enter into adulthood, they feel as though they must over-compensate for their shortcomings as a child. Doing everything they can to prove themselves valuable to the world that once may have rejected them. e Internet, and more specifically, social media has created an outlet for narcissistic tendencies to thrive. From the obsession of having a large Twitter following, gaining Instagram and Facebook likes, and of course, taking the perfect selfie, this new medium and its many platforms have changed the way in which women are now interacting and portraying themselves to the world. And while there is a notion that only youth feed into the hoopla of social media, that notion is quite simply a myth. New York City based social media strategist and online branding consultant, Ashani Mfuko, finds that regardless of age, most women are equally engaged in social media; however depending on age, interests differ. "At this point, almost everyone is on social media. Most age groups are active, but in different ways and for different reasons. e youth are active more for the purpose of socializing with their friends, and following their favorite celebrities, brands, etc. online." She adds, "e older crowd of women are active as well, but focus on sharing about their families, personal and professional milestones, current events, politics, and other important issues they are passionate about." However, that does not exempt older women from embracing a certain level of narcissism online. Social media marketing professional, Martika Gregory, finds that social media brings out a little narcissism in all women. "I feel like social media encourages a certain amount of narcissism with any demographic, to be honest. rough the introduction of Instagram and selfies, I feel like women have become more conscious of their appearance and what they look like, or want to look like to others. I've seen women post selfies on Instagram, whereas some won't post a single photo of themselves. I think more women are looking to other women (and sometimes men) on social media, whether they know them personally or not, for validation about their appearance. Social media platforms like Instagram have created a "look at me!" state of mind." While we all may crave attention online when we need an ego boost, Dr. Day has found that social media may not always be the best outlet for someone who is truly a narcissist, as it can be difficult to deal with some of the negativity that comes with being active on social media. "While it may be possible that the digital world may Social media encourages a certain amount of narcissism with any demographic. " " NARCISSIST NATION

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