In this episode, we talk about all things narcissism: from its manifestations (grandiose vs. vulnerable), behavioral patterns, personality traits, status and reward seeking, genetic and social determinants of narcissism, the role of technology and social media use in fueling narcissism, and narcissism as an evolutionary adaptation to certain ecological niches. We also discuss Dr. Campbell’s research on “geek culture” and how this relates to status seeking and narcissism, and how narcissism relates to the hero’s journey and costly fitness indicators in evolutionary theory. Lastly, we discuss the inverse of narcissism, imposter syndrome and intellectual humility, how arousal theory and affect relate to one’s ego, and how understanding narcissism can help foster a healthy sense of self.
The Nature & Nurture Podcast