In understanding human behavior, our society is faced with new dynamics regarding how we perceive ourselves, address social issues, and prioritize personal well-being. Two prominent elements in this landscape are rapidly evolving social awareness and the trend of narcissism reflected in social media.
Social awareness entails understanding the issues affecting society broadly, including social justice, economic disparities, the environment, and human rights. It encompasses empathy for others, sensitivity to differences, and active engagement in efforts to improve social conditions. More precisely, it's recognizing and taking responsibility for issues impacting our communities.
However, there's a risk when healthy social awareness turns into social narcissism. Social narcissism occurs when individuals use support for social issues as a tool to bolster their own self-image, without considering the substance or actual impact of their support. This excessive focus on oneself can divert attention from the actual issues. Social media platforms have become avenues for narcissistic trends, showcasing idealized versions of ourselves. These platforms often serve as stages for perfect self-images, fostering the pursuit of acknowledgment and creating pressure to appear "perfect" in the virtual world.
Nevertheless, high social awareness is often associated with better personal well-being. Yet, it's crucial not to get too immersed in personal narcissism, where self-gratification becomes the primary focus without considering others or the impact on the social environment. This is supported by Masaki Iwasaki's research, stating a significant positive correlation between pro-social behavior and overall well-being.
Overall, this research establishes a strong foundation stating that pro-social behavior, such as supporting the environment or charitable causes, is closely linked to individual happiness. This highlights that policies and actions encouraging pro-social behavior can be crucial factors in enhancing overall social welfare.
However, the relationship between social awareness and personal well-being can be complex. Over-involvement in social activities or excessive concern for specific social issues can also create emotional burdens or stress negatively impacting personal well-being.
In facing society's perspective on social awareness and the narcissistic pressures from social media, we must reassess our life priorities. This involves combining a balanced social responsiveness with genuine personal well-being. Through this blend, we are given the opportunity to lead more meaningful lives, make positive impacts, while maintaining a healthy emotional and mental balance.
Amidst this complexity, it's essential to redefine our life priorities. A public perspective that is inclusive and responsive to social issues must be balanced with healthy self-awareness and genuine personal well-being. This entails developing deeper self-awareness about values truly essential for our happiness and well-being.
Engaging in social issues and helping others can reduce the excessive self-focus often associated with narcissism. However, this can also be complex, as some individuals with narcissism may also engage in social activities with specific motives, such as to gain recognition or praise. This phenomenon illustrates how narcissism can influence how people engage in social activities. They might engage in charitable actions solely to gain public recognition or to create a positive self-image.
Nevertheless, it's crucial to understand that participation in social activities driven by narcissistic motives is not a healthy or sustainable form of engagement. It can not only undermine the true purpose of these activities but also be detrimental to the people who should benefit from the help or support that should be given.
Further, research by Rebecca B. Fegan and Amy R. explains that 115 participants completed the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS) and questions related to social media use. The study found that vulnerable narcissism is not a singular trait but comprises two main parts: oversensitivity and egocentrism. This suggests that overly sensitive individuals tend to be more involved in social media use with various behaviors, such as being overly concerned with negative comments and portraying themselves significantly differently on social media than in real life. However, those with lower egocentrism tend to worry less about negative comments and show a greater difference in how they portray themselves on social media compared to real life. In other words, behavior on social media can be influenced by specific aspects of this vulnerable narcissism.
