Addiction and “Generation Me”: Narcissistic and Prosocial Behaviors of Adolescents with Substance Dependency Disorder in Comparison to Normative Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore narcissistic and prosocial behaviors as reported by adolescents with and without substance dependency disorder (SDD). This study employs a quasi-experimental design using adolescents with SDD compared with two normative samples of adolescents. In comparison to normative adolescents, adolescents with SDD were strongly distinguished by overt narcissistic behaviors and less monetary giving. Levels of narcissistic and prosocial behaviors among adolescents with SDD suggest a connection between self-centeredness and addiction. Results also suggest volunteerism as a potential option to counter narcissism in adolescents who are substance dependent.

KEYWORDS:

• Narcissism
• altruism
• generation me
• adolescents
• addiction
• substance dependence disorder

Notes

This research was supported by a grant award (K01 AA015137-03) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to Dr. Pagano. This project also is supported by a grant award (#13591) from the John Templeton Foundation to Dr. Pagano and a grant award to Ms. Carter from Case Western University's Office of the Provost/SOURCE. The authors thank New Directions, an adolescent residential treatment facility in Ohio, for their assistance in the data collection. Analysis and poster preparation were supported by the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. The authors report no other financial support or affiliations.

Notes. *p < .05

**p < .01

***p < .0001.

Notes. *p < .05

**p < .01

***p < .0001.