The Narcissism of Our Time

© Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, October 6, 2007

The recent admission by Marion Jones, noted track star and gold and bronze medals winner in the 2000 Olympics, that she used performance enhancing drugs during the years of her competition is just another example of the fallacy of the demigod status we assign to athletes, entertainment stars, and other noted celebrities…you know…the beautiful people.  From the escapades of Paris Hilton and Britany Spears to the Gangsta shenanigans of Michael Vick to the latest episode of the O. J. chronicles, one by one our celebrity culture heroes are providing clear evidence that the fallacy of the human condition doesn’t just apply to Bob, the alcoholic mechanic, Lisa, the bored housewife, or Timmy, the neighborhood juvenile delinquent.

Pundits and talking heads will spin and dissect these stories and cases of flawed character for hours on the round-the-clock cable channels, and there will continue to be countless words written (e.g. this column) about the motivation and causes of the transgressions of these icons of America.  A good deal will be said about the pressure and stress put on these individuals to succeed, the expectation of the fans, and the self-induced ambition to be number one.  Others will point out that many of them are surrounded by handlers and hanger-on’s of ill-repute.

All of this may be true.  All of these factors average into the overall reason for the behavior of the athletes, starlets, and persons of national interest.  However, in the final analysis, the character of the individual cannot be too much discounted.  Paris Hilton and Britney Spears did not become irresponsible overnight.  Their predilection to become intoxicated and drive automobiles, while wearing underwear or not, did not emerge just because they are wealthy.  Michael Vick didn’t enjoy tossing non-victorious dogs into the air and crushing their skulls just because he was a talented and successful football player.  O. J. Simpson did not enter a hotel room in Las Vegas and engage in what is charged as an armed robbery just because he was once acquitted of a murder that everyone believes he committed.  Marion Jones didn’t take performance enhancing drugs just because she was once a skinny little girl.

All of these folks and countless others have a fundamental flaw in character.  It is called narcissism…an over-appreciation of one’s own self-worth to the exclusion of all others.  Some would argue that it is a mental condition.  Others suspect that it may actually be a physiological malady…bad chemicals (natural or otherwise) in the brain.  Whatever it is, it can be corrected through reformation.  But in order to experience that reformation, the individual involved must want to be reformed.  She or he must have a sincere desire for change, and a good deal of work must be done to affect, if you will, repentance.  Some folks get redeemed via a religious experience, and that is good, if it is legitimate and not just, what defense lawyers and prosecutors call, jailhouse religion.  Others go through counseling.  Now, I am not talking about the six weeks rehab courses that are so popular with the celebrities.  Rather, I am talking about serious and extended mental health intervention.  Still, others do it on-their-own. They realize where they are and where they need to go.  They reform from within.

The one great truth in all of this is that NO ONE is perfect.  We all have our faults and shortcomings.  Yet, these inherent flaws are mitigated by the decisions we make everyday of our lives.  May we always make decisions that are good.