The Continued Rise of the Me Generation

Great article from CNN Study: Vanity on the rise among college students

Today's college students are more narcissistic and self-centered than their predecessors, according to a comprehensive new study by five psychologists who worry that the trend could be harmful to personal relationships and American society.

"We need to stop endlessly repeating 'You're special' and having children repeat that back," said the study's lead author, Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University. "Kids are self-centered enough already."

The standardized inventory, known as the NPI, asks for responses to such statements as "If I ruled the world, it would be a better place," "I think I am a special person" and "I can live my life any way I want to."

The self-esteem project continues to proves itself to be a failure.  The more you think of yourself and how happy you should be, the worse you tend to feel.   As believers we must recognize that much of what is called issues such as self-esteem, looks, codependency, mid-life crisis – these infirmities are not much more than the pains of selfishness and ultimately sin.  Rather than self-focus, Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 16, that “if anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  Our mission as a church is to promote humble, honest, redemptive community in Jesus Christ among the people who attend. Only the gospel addresses our core problems and frees us from the bondage of looking to ourself as the answer.

(HT: David Fairchild's post Study: Vanity on the rise among college students)