A new (Sep 2013) study published in the academic journal Computers and Human Behaviour shows that heavy Twitter users and adult Facebook users tend to suffer from a superiority complex (“God Complex”), over indexing on the superiority dimension of the Narcissism Personality Inventory scale (below). Younger Facebook users, on the other hand, over-index on the exhibitionist narcissism dimension.
Take this Narcissism Personality Inventory scale test yourself – or test a colleague (or boss); read each pair of statements below and place an “X” by the one that comes closest to describing your feelings and beliefs about yourself. Responses consistent with narcissism are shown in bold, and a preponderance of bold responses indicate narcissistic tendencies – a condition previously known as megalomania.
So what does this mean for social media marketing? First, know that you if you do social media marketing, you are marketing to narcissists. This means you need to appeal to people who are more likely cheat in game-play and romantic relationships, take more resources for themselves and leave fewer resources for others, value material things and be obsessively concerned with their outer appearance.
And for Twitter campaigns, particularly to younger adults, know that you are marketing to people who feel superior to others. Adapt your campaigns accordingly.
| 1. | ___ | I really like to be the center of attention |
| ___ | It makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention | |
| 2. | ___ | I am no better or nor worse than most people |
| ___ | I think I am a special person | |
| 3. | ___ | Everybody likes to hear my stories |
| ___ | Sometimes I tell good stories | |
| 4. | ___ | I usually get the respect that I deserve |
| ___ | I insist upon getting the respect that is due me | |
| 5. | ___ | I don’t mind following orders |
| ___ | I like having authority over people | |
| 6. | ___ | I am going to be a great person |
| ___ | I hope I am going to be successful | |
| 7. | ___ | People sometimes believe what I tell them |
| ___ | I can make anybody believe anything I want them to | |
| 8. | ___ | I expect a great deal from other people |
| ___ | I like to do things for other people | |
| 9. | ___ | I like to be the center of attention |
| ___ | I prefer to blend in with the crowd | |
| 10. | ___ | I am much like everybody else |
| ___ | I am an extraordinary person | |
| 11. | ___ | I always know what I am doing |
| ___ | Sometimes I am not sure of what I am doing | |
| 12. | ___ | I don’t like it when I find myself manipulating people |
| ___ | I find it easy to manipulate people | |
| 13. | ___ | Being an authority doesn’t mean that much to me |
| ___ | People always seem to recognize my authority | |
| 14. | ___ | I know that I am good because everybody keeps telling me so |
| ___ | When people compliment me I sometimes get embarrassed | |
| 15. | ___ | I try not to be a show off |
| ___ | I am apt to show off if I get the chance | |
| 16. | ___ | I am more capable than other people |
| ___ | There is a lot that I can learn from other people |
Source:
Mirror or Megaphone?: How relationships between narcissism and social networking site use differ on Facebook and Twitter, Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 29, Issue 5, September 2013, Pages 2004-2012
The University of Michigan study assessed 486 college students and 93 adults
