There no more narcissistic than Boomers:
While narcissism scores are higher today, it’s not just for Millennials. They’re higher for every generation since the Boomers — lets keep in mind that Boomers are the ones who championed the notion of focusing on the self (self-awareness, self-development, self-indulgence, etc). Furthermore, some aspects of narcissism are healthy, such as high self-confidence, and some argue that indulgent and permissive parenting is the cause, and that’s a good thing. If it’s just self-esteem that’s more prevalent, and not the negative and dysfunctional side of narcissism, that’s not a problem. Besides, life will eventually find a way to knock them down a peg or two.
They may feel entitled, but it’s not their fault:
No doubt, they grew up coddled. As children, Millennials were the most cared-for generation in history. And it’s not just by parents — their teachers also made sure each child’s self-esteem was preserved at any cost. Grade inflation reflects that — in 2004, 48% of college freshmen reported an A average in high school, compared to only 18% in 1968, even though SAT scores were lower over that time period. The same pattern of higher grades was also found in college, but that may have more to do with how higher education has changed. Universities today see students as customers, and making the customer happy is one of their objectives. Giving higher grades makes sure they will come back the following semester. Who wouldn’t ask for an A if they knew their professors would be that pliable? (For more on this topic, see our article, “What’s Wrong with Higher Education?“)
