Narcissism on the Jersey Shore: Exposure to narcissistic reality TV characters can increase narcissism levels in viewers

Bryan Gibson; Ian Hawkins; Christopher Redker; Brad J. Bushman

doi:10.1037/ppm0000140

Narcissism on the Jersey Shore: Exposure to narcissistic reality TV characters can increase narcissism levels in viewers

Bryan Gibson^*, Ian Hawkins, Christopher Redker, Brad J. Bushman

^*Corresponding author for this work

Communication Science

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Recent research documents an increase in narcissism in the United States. Little research, however, has explored mechanisms that could cause higher narcissism. In 2 studies, we test the hypothesis that exposure to narcissistic reality TV characters is related to greater narcissism for those engaging in experience taking (Kaufman & Libby, 2012). Study 1 is a correlational study showing that greater exposure to narcissistic reality TV while engaged in experience taking is related to higher levels of narcissism. Study 2 is an experimental study showing that participants randomly assigned to watch a narcissistic reality TV show, under conditions that encouraged experience taking, were more narcissistic. These results suggest that media can shape trait narcissism levels that are generally assumed to be stable.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	399-412
Number of pages	14
Journal	Psychology of Popular Media Culture
Volume	7
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000140
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2018

Keywords

Experience taking
Media
Narcissism
Reality TV

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Narcissism on the Jersey Shore: Exposure to narcissistic reality TV characters can increase narcissism levels in viewers

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