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The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism Is Seducing America
In the eye-opening New York Times bestseller, The Mirror Effect, widely respected addiction and behavior specialist and producer/host of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew on VH1, Dr. Drew Pinsky takes a hard look at the profound changes blogging, tweeting, tabloids, and reality TV are having on the American way of life. An important wake up call for every parent, co-written with Dr. S. Mark Young, The Mirror Effect is a groundbreaking exploration of celebrity narcissism and how it is damaging our culture and our children.
271 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2008
46 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Drew Pinsky
14 books71 followersDavid Drew Pinsky, M.D., better known as Dr. Drew, is an American radio and television personality and board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist. He is the host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show, Loveline, which he has hosted since 1984. On television he produces and hosts the VH1 show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, its sibling shows Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew and Sober House, and the MTV show Sex...With Mom and Dad.
As a medical doctor, Pinsky is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Medical Director for the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, California, staff member at Huntington Memorial Hospital, and a private practitioner.
As a medical doctor, Pinsky is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Medical Director for the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, California, staff member at Huntington Memorial Hospital, and a private practitioner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 6, 2012
The Mirror Effect is the rarest of kind of book and the fact that is it very good is particularly impressive considering the odds. For a book of broad, social criticism written by a television personality to not only be scientific and well supported, but also calm and compassionate is a true feat.
The premise of The Mirror Effect is bold. Pinsky writes that the convergence of reality television, lowered libel standards and constant connectedness have combined to create a market for an awful kind of celebrity (Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton). When this collides with the void left by pervasive divorce, childhood trauma and drugs, we have a society that encourages and supports narcissism. To continue the Mirror Analogy, society and celebrity are both mirrors and when put together create an endless chain that recreates the same initial problem. A child who develops narcissistic tendencies because of a negligent parent sees narcissism rewarded in the famous people they respect and the celebrity interprets that attention as approval for their own dangerous and indulgent behavior. Neither is incentivized be responsible, mature or healthy.
The thesis would be significant if it were simple social criticism but it is much more than that. Pinsky and Young actually bothered to do the research, subjecting hundreds of Loveline guests to a narcissism study they later published in 2006. They didn't stop there. The Mirror Effect is full of connections to existing and well respected psychological findings, making the book both fascinating and substantive. Also, due to Pinsky's place in popular culture, it is (thankfully) current. As opposed to the religiously based arguments of someone like Rabbi Schmuley Boteach, The Mirror Effect was written with an inside line on the celebrities it criticizes. Chapters begin with quotes from relevant celebrities and Pinsky draws from an array of anecdotes and examples possible only by someone who is more than just an observer.
If there is one weakness in the book it's the publishers push to make it appeal to a mass audience - something that though deserved, takes away from its academic credibility. There is the massive photo of Dr. Drew on the cover and the fact that it has a whopping three total contributing authors. (check the cover page, Jill Stern is also credited). Despite all the research there is no bibliography, index or even footnotes.
But those are small consequences considering the implications and quality of The Mirror Effect.
The premise of The Mirror Effect is bold. Pinsky writes that the convergence of reality television, lowered libel standards and constant connectedness have combined to create a market for an awful kind of celebrity (Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton). When this collides with the void left by pervasive divorce, childhood trauma and drugs, we have a society that encourages and supports narcissism. To continue the Mirror Analogy, society and celebrity are both mirrors and when put together create an endless chain that recreates the same initial problem. A child who develops narcissistic tendencies because of a negligent parent sees narcissism rewarded in the famous people they respect and the celebrity interprets that attention as approval for their own dangerous and indulgent behavior. Neither is incentivized be responsible, mature or healthy.
The thesis would be significant if it were simple social criticism but it is much more than that. Pinsky and Young actually bothered to do the research, subjecting hundreds of Loveline guests to a narcissism study they later published in 2006. They didn't stop there. The Mirror Effect is full of connections to existing and well respected psychological findings, making the book both fascinating and substantive. Also, due to Pinsky's place in popular culture, it is (thankfully) current. As opposed to the religiously based arguments of someone like Rabbi Schmuley Boteach, The Mirror Effect was written with an inside line on the celebrities it criticizes. Chapters begin with quotes from relevant celebrities and Pinsky draws from an array of anecdotes and examples possible only by someone who is more than just an observer.
If there is one weakness in the book it's the publishers push to make it appeal to a mass audience - something that though deserved, takes away from its academic credibility. There is the massive photo of Dr. Drew on the cover and the fact that it has a whopping three total contributing authors. (check the cover page, Jill Stern is also credited). Despite all the research there is no bibliography, index or even footnotes.
But those are small consequences considering the implications and quality of The Mirror Effect.
May 25, 2009
Based on groundbreaking new research: widely respected addiction and behavior specialist Dr. Drew Pinksy’s exploration of narcissism in celebrity culture—and how it is damaging our culture, our children, and our lives.
Britney Spears. Lindsay Lohan. Paris Hilton. Anna Nicole Smith.
Who are these troubled, and troubling, figures who dominate our national attention—celebrities, moguls, train wrecks? Why are we so deeply interested in their lives and loves, their endlessly repeated journey from rising star to inevitable flameout? In spite of extreme fame, fortune, and opportunity, why do their lives always seem so steeped in drama? And—most important—how are their lives changing ours?
In this shattering new book, authors Drew Pinsky and S. Mark Young offer an eye-opening new look at our celebrity-crazed culture-from what drives people to seek fame in the first place, to how our obsession with celebrity is changing the emotional landscape of America. Drawing upon an unprecedented academic study of celebrity personality they recently published in The Journal of Research in Personality (Sept: 06)—the first such study to collect in-depth research data from actual celebrity sources—Pinsky and Young explore the widespread prevalence of narcissistic behavior among celebrities from all walks of fame, from actors and musicians to comedians and reality TV stars. Their core finding was that individuals who become celebrities are more likely to have certain kinds of psychological damage—narcissistic personality issues, often rooted in childhood trauma, with attendant mood disturbances, melodramatic tendencies, and substance abuse problems—than average Americans. And those issues, in turn, lead to the private—and increasingly public-struggles of celebrities that ultimately command public attention.
Pinsky and Young map this terrain—but then press further, exploring how these celebrities’ constant public exposure (in every sense of the word) is being modeled on a 24-hour basis to the rest of our culture—and especially our children. The American demand for celebrity gossip seems insatiable: Magazines like People, In Touch, and Us Weekly continue to grow at a rate of 50 percent per year; 100 million viewers tune into shows like Entertainment Tonight and Hollywood Insider every night; and gossip websites like perezhilton.com and tmz.com have exploded on the Internet and even spawned their own TV shows. Pinsky and Young argue that this ongoing real-life soap opera—with its daily cycles of bacchanalian drinking and drug use, wanton self-exposure and other pornographic behavior, and self-destructive excess of every kind—is doing serious and potentially long-term damage to children, adolescents, and adults alike.
With his insider access to celebrities of all kinds—many of whom he has treated—and his years of clinical work with issues of addiction, drug abuse, and other disorders, Dr. Drew Pinsky has a fascinating vantage point from which to assess this revealing cultural phenomenon, and a trusted voice that will bring the issue home to both parents and troubled teenagers.
I loved his first book: "Cracked", but this one did not quite measure up to that one.
Britney Spears. Lindsay Lohan. Paris Hilton. Anna Nicole Smith.
Who are these troubled, and troubling, figures who dominate our national attention—celebrities, moguls, train wrecks? Why are we so deeply interested in their lives and loves, their endlessly repeated journey from rising star to inevitable flameout? In spite of extreme fame, fortune, and opportunity, why do their lives always seem so steeped in drama? And—most important—how are their lives changing ours?
In this shattering new book, authors Drew Pinsky and S. Mark Young offer an eye-opening new look at our celebrity-crazed culture-from what drives people to seek fame in the first place, to how our obsession with celebrity is changing the emotional landscape of America. Drawing upon an unprecedented academic study of celebrity personality they recently published in The Journal of Research in Personality (Sept: 06)—the first such study to collect in-depth research data from actual celebrity sources—Pinsky and Young explore the widespread prevalence of narcissistic behavior among celebrities from all walks of fame, from actors and musicians to comedians and reality TV stars. Their core finding was that individuals who become celebrities are more likely to have certain kinds of psychological damage—narcissistic personality issues, often rooted in childhood trauma, with attendant mood disturbances, melodramatic tendencies, and substance abuse problems—than average Americans. And those issues, in turn, lead to the private—and increasingly public-struggles of celebrities that ultimately command public attention.
Pinsky and Young map this terrain—but then press further, exploring how these celebrities’ constant public exposure (in every sense of the word) is being modeled on a 24-hour basis to the rest of our culture—and especially our children. The American demand for celebrity gossip seems insatiable: Magazines like People, In Touch, and Us Weekly continue to grow at a rate of 50 percent per year; 100 million viewers tune into shows like Entertainment Tonight and Hollywood Insider every night; and gossip websites like perezhilton.com and tmz.com have exploded on the Internet and even spawned their own TV shows. Pinsky and Young argue that this ongoing real-life soap opera—with its daily cycles of bacchanalian drinking and drug use, wanton self-exposure and other pornographic behavior, and self-destructive excess of every kind—is doing serious and potentially long-term damage to children, adolescents, and adults alike.
With his insider access to celebrities of all kinds—many of whom he has treated—and his years of clinical work with issues of addiction, drug abuse, and other disorders, Dr. Drew Pinsky has a fascinating vantage point from which to assess this revealing cultural phenomenon, and a trusted voice that will bring the issue home to both parents and troubled teenagers.
I loved his first book: "Cracked", but this one did not quite measure up to that one.
May 21, 2010
I think this book is a real eye-opener. Dr. Drew touches on all different kinds of factors that have led to the increase of Narcissism in American culture.
Although ironic to read a book about celebrities and narcissism from a, well... celebrity, I think Dr. Drew is a deeply caring person and it comes across in his ideas for solutions to the rise of narcissistic personality traits. The most pointed consideration that Dr. Drew made in the book, I think, is that when we hear stories about celebrities acting out via the media, our reaction is: they get to do whatever they want, and, they deserved that horrible thing that just happened to them, and they deserve what's coming to them. Our focused enthusiasm is for their demise, and it is not instead causing concern within us that although a celebrity, he/she is still a human being and his/her behavior is cause for concern and alarm. Instead of seeing that an individual needs help, we dig into the gossip columns whenever he/she has acted out, perpetuating their bad behavior (because there is no difference between bad or good press/reputation anymore, any press is good press).
I highly recommend this book to anyone, and I especially think it would be helpful in some sort of pop culture geared college class.
Although ironic to read a book about celebrities and narcissism from a, well... celebrity, I think Dr. Drew is a deeply caring person and it comes across in his ideas for solutions to the rise of narcissistic personality traits. The most pointed consideration that Dr. Drew made in the book, I think, is that when we hear stories about celebrities acting out via the media, our reaction is: they get to do whatever they want, and, they deserved that horrible thing that just happened to them, and they deserve what's coming to them. Our focused enthusiasm is for their demise, and it is not instead causing concern within us that although a celebrity, he/she is still a human being and his/her behavior is cause for concern and alarm. Instead of seeing that an individual needs help, we dig into the gossip columns whenever he/she has acted out, perpetuating their bad behavior (because there is no difference between bad or good press/reputation anymore, any press is good press).
I highly recommend this book to anyone, and I especially think it would be helpful in some sort of pop culture geared college class.
January 9, 2016
I've started reading this book because I found the real-life well reflected in the author description.
Reality TV. Celebutantes. YouTube. Sex Tapes. Gossip Blogs. Drunk Driving. Tabloids. Drug Overdoses
He raises this questions: Is this entertainment? Why do we keep watching?What does it mean for our kids?It is truth, in our days everyone have an insatiable appetite about what mass media transmits on 24/7 even if that is just "a piece of s**t that the world revolves around".We even forget that famous people are famous because we pay attention to them. I think it is just like a "monkey see monkey do behavior ", there are people happy to feed themselves with this information without understanding of why it is on their interest.The problem is not in the watching these things but the absorbing the wrong essence which is reflected, some users take the celebrities narcissism as an inspiration for themselves, they do exactly what they see in their real-life,they mirror this effect.It is not just a critical book, I found a lot of well documented research inside, it could be used as a self help book to avoid these bad habits.
Reality TV. Celebutantes. YouTube. Sex Tapes. Gossip Blogs. Drunk Driving. Tabloids. Drug Overdoses
He raises this questions: Is this entertainment? Why do we keep watching?What does it mean for our kids?It is truth, in our days everyone have an insatiable appetite about what mass media transmits on 24/7 even if that is just "a piece of s**t that the world revolves around".We even forget that famous people are famous because we pay attention to them. I think it is just like a "monkey see monkey do behavior ", there are people happy to feed themselves with this information without understanding of why it is on their interest.The problem is not in the watching these things but the absorbing the wrong essence which is reflected, some users take the celebrities narcissism as an inspiration for themselves, they do exactly what they see in their real-life,they mirror this effect.It is not just a critical book, I found a lot of well documented research inside, it could be used as a self help book to avoid these bad habits.
April 14, 2009
The author discusses how media and our obsession with celebrities' narcissistic behavior is "normalizing" extreme behavior--not only in our children and teenagers, but even the parents.
Social trends of entitlement, vanity, aggression and envy have subplanted the values we usually teach our children of empathy, hard work, joyfulness, etc.
The author advises breaking narcissism in a individual is hard and involves the person:
embracing a concept of something greater/practicing rigorous honesty/keeping things simple, living up to commitments/spending time with a broad range of people/learning to access and share feelings/learning to appreciate the feelings of others/being of service (with no expectation of praise in return).
This should be required reading for everyone who has a child that watches television, goes to school, or even breathes air in the United States!
Social trends of entitlement, vanity, aggression and envy have subplanted the values we usually teach our children of empathy, hard work, joyfulness, etc.
The author advises breaking narcissism in a individual is hard and involves the person:
embracing a concept of something greater/practicing rigorous honesty/keeping things simple, living up to commitments/spending time with a broad range of people/learning to access and share feelings/learning to appreciate the feelings of others/being of service (with no expectation of praise in return).
This should be required reading for everyone who has a child that watches television, goes to school, or even breathes air in the United States!
February 7, 2014
A few chapters in I began feeling cognitive dissonance when talk of narcissism was the focal point as I began to realize how prevalent it is in our society and, most painful of all, within myself. I may not fall on the more destructive, unhealthy side if the spectrum as I am self aware and very empathetic towards those around me, however this book was an eye opening experience.
It's simple, easily digested, and paradigm shifting. I felt uneasy and much better for it, like a good medication that initially has some mild side effects.
It's simple, easily digested, and paradigm shifting. I felt uneasy and much better for it, like a good medication that initially has some mild side effects.
March 21, 2010
Gossipy book purports to be a serious look at a superficial and materialistic celebrity culture. There are better books out there on the subject.
December 12, 2010
Couldn't quite get over his hipocracy.
May 17, 2018
This is one of the most illuminating books I’ve read on the topic of celebrity culture. I was truly impressed with Pinsky & Young.
Both of them are practicing clinical psychologists (at least at the point this book was written) and work with A-list celebrities to overcome some of the pathological behavior they display in public. They mention Lindsey Logan, Johnny Depp, Britney Spears, the Kardashians, John Mayer, among others, and diagnose them universally as textbook narcissists.
They helpfully distinguish between a healthy dose of self-respect/love & the unhealthy self-obsession that is so commonly associated with Hollywood.
I’ve been thinking about self-absorption a lot lately. It was initially the reason why I did not use Instagram a lot and now is the reason that I purposefully unfollow (and avoid) following celebrities on social media (apart from a handful of exceptions).
It has now made me re-think how I use social media. I want to add value through book reviews and music (@jejjejfercak — my other IS account), so that I could hopefully add life to others.
I know how much a good heartfelt song feels like on a difficult day and how much meaning an uplifting or insightful book can bring to the curious mind that celebrates discourse. I think if we aspired to embody the ‘good’ that we want to see, we’d be able to bring a lot to the world.
Celebrity culture is arguably why Donald Trump was elected, among other reasons. America’s obsession with wealth & prestige (the American dream) is probably the largest contributor to this problem, however. I am biased as I say that, I do realize that. That is why I’m researching the early beginnings of celebrity obsession. Thus far, I believe my opinion is based on credible evidence.
I would very much recommend this book!
Read more on this on my blog: https://writingcooperative.com/more-b...
Both of them are practicing clinical psychologists (at least at the point this book was written) and work with A-list celebrities to overcome some of the pathological behavior they display in public. They mention Lindsey Logan, Johnny Depp, Britney Spears, the Kardashians, John Mayer, among others, and diagnose them universally as textbook narcissists.
They helpfully distinguish between a healthy dose of self-respect/love & the unhealthy self-obsession that is so commonly associated with Hollywood.
I’ve been thinking about self-absorption a lot lately. It was initially the reason why I did not use Instagram a lot and now is the reason that I purposefully unfollow (and avoid) following celebrities on social media (apart from a handful of exceptions).
It has now made me re-think how I use social media. I want to add value through book reviews and music (@jejjejfercak — my other IS account), so that I could hopefully add life to others.
I know how much a good heartfelt song feels like on a difficult day and how much meaning an uplifting or insightful book can bring to the curious mind that celebrates discourse. I think if we aspired to embody the ‘good’ that we want to see, we’d be able to bring a lot to the world.
Celebrity culture is arguably why Donald Trump was elected, among other reasons. America’s obsession with wealth & prestige (the American dream) is probably the largest contributor to this problem, however. I am biased as I say that, I do realize that. That is why I’m researching the early beginnings of celebrity obsession. Thus far, I believe my opinion is based on credible evidence.
I would very much recommend this book!
Read more on this on my blog: https://writingcooperative.com/more-b...
July 17, 2017
I've never understood why anyone would want to be a celebrity. I absolutely love wearing the same clothes for an entire week and if I'm lucky I don't bump into the same people, so no one knows because no one follows me around with a camera. I also love donuts and if I eat enough to make me fat, I don't have to read any magazine articles about it. I just have to buy new, bigger pants, which you can bet that I'll wear for at least a week straight.
Anyhow, he briefly touched on the 2008 election (Clint vs Obama) and how it was so much a celebrity, rather than an issues race. I would love to hear his take on the Clinton v Trump election, because oh mama! That was SO celeb driven, with the front man being a raging narcissist.
Anyhow, he briefly touched on the 2008 election (Clint vs Obama) and how it was so much a celebrity, rather than an issues race. I would love to hear his take on the Clinton v Trump election, because oh mama! That was SO celeb driven, with the front man being a raging narcissist.
March 5, 2021
This was the hardest book to read because I disagreed with 99% of his argument. He desperately tries to make celebrity life styles fit his description of what a narcissist is. He talks about people not having empathy when he himself showed no empathy when talking about celebrities at there lowest moments in life. He kicked them while they where on the ground. He tries to make us think all narcissist intentionally do terrible things and it's their own fault they spiral out of control. They need help from many different approaches, not someone judging them.
June 26, 2019
Incredible read delving deep into the roots of narcissism within our culture. Stemming from the media and culminating at the root of celebrity narcissism. Great detail into the trend for the average teen seeking fame while inheriting characteristics and attributes of narcissism along the way. One of the few books so far that I’m certainly re reading. Great for common knowledge or those interested in the components of psychology. Great book!!!
November 30, 2018
Really good break down of narcissism and celebrity.
Read
June 18, 20223.9⭐
January 14, 2010
I've grown addicted to those "Celebrity Rehab" shows on Vh1, so I thought this might be an interesting read considering Dr. Drew's involvement with a "celebreality" show.
The authors believe that we are becoming more narcissistic as a culture because of the media focus on celebrities, who model narcissistic behavior with little or no consequence. Narcissism is not about self-love but about egocentric behavior like entitlement, exhibitionism, and comes more from self-loathing and childhood trauma - which explains why many celebrities end up addicts. While many celebrities have had traumatic childhoods, the result of these narcisstic celebrities modeling behavior has affected a generation of people who want to "be famous" and pursue celebrity by going on YouTube or reality shows.
I had mixed emotions about this book, because while this theory rings true, the evidence presented is not exactly scholarly (the authors use an episode of "South Park" and comments made in a "South Park" discussion forum as evidence). I would have liked to see citations for some of the evidence presented. There was also a section in the introduction where a list of statistics are presented about current teen drug use and sex followed by a conclusion that clearly teens today are doing more of these things than in past generations, with no comparative statistics to show the increase. Of course, this is written for the layperson, not the random person who almost went to grad school for psychology and so understands statistical analysis and misleading arguments.
There was also a bit of a weird point of view at times. Occasionally the tone would be that it is the viewers' fault for watching reality TV and buying People magazine and the viewers' envy, jealousy, and aggression that perpetuates a situation like Britney Spears' mental breakdown and viewers will create a mob sacrifice mentality. Very little blame is placed on the media conglomerates who continue filming and pay all kinds of money for paparazzi photos. I found this tone off-putting. Then of course one has to consider that the Rehab shows are feeding into some of this, although Dr. Drew explains that the celebrity stories fit into one of two categories: the sacrifice (stars who die young due to addiction or suicide) or the redemption (stars who quit their addictions and make a comeback), and the Rehab shows attempt to have a redemption plot line. Still, even if Dr. Drew has this goal of creating a show that exposes the dangers of narcissistic addiction and a redemption cycle, the celebrities who appear on said shows are likely still fueled by their narcissistic patterns, thinking who cares if they are going through a personal struggle, as long as they are on TV?
Side note: At the end of the book the NPI (Narcissistic Personality Inventory) is included. According to a published study by the authors, the average person scores a 15.3 and celebrities score a 17.3. I scored a 7.
The authors believe that we are becoming more narcissistic as a culture because of the media focus on celebrities, who model narcissistic behavior with little or no consequence. Narcissism is not about self-love but about egocentric behavior like entitlement, exhibitionism, and comes more from self-loathing and childhood trauma - which explains why many celebrities end up addicts. While many celebrities have had traumatic childhoods, the result of these narcisstic celebrities modeling behavior has affected a generation of people who want to "be famous" and pursue celebrity by going on YouTube or reality shows.
I had mixed emotions about this book, because while this theory rings true, the evidence presented is not exactly scholarly (the authors use an episode of "South Park" and comments made in a "South Park" discussion forum as evidence). I would have liked to see citations for some of the evidence presented. There was also a section in the introduction where a list of statistics are presented about current teen drug use and sex followed by a conclusion that clearly teens today are doing more of these things than in past generations, with no comparative statistics to show the increase. Of course, this is written for the layperson, not the random person who almost went to grad school for psychology and so understands statistical analysis and misleading arguments.
There was also a bit of a weird point of view at times. Occasionally the tone would be that it is the viewers' fault for watching reality TV and buying People magazine and the viewers' envy, jealousy, and aggression that perpetuates a situation like Britney Spears' mental breakdown and viewers will create a mob sacrifice mentality. Very little blame is placed on the media conglomerates who continue filming and pay all kinds of money for paparazzi photos. I found this tone off-putting. Then of course one has to consider that the Rehab shows are feeding into some of this, although Dr. Drew explains that the celebrity stories fit into one of two categories: the sacrifice (stars who die young due to addiction or suicide) or the redemption (stars who quit their addictions and make a comeback), and the Rehab shows attempt to have a redemption plot line. Still, even if Dr. Drew has this goal of creating a show that exposes the dangers of narcissistic addiction and a redemption cycle, the celebrities who appear on said shows are likely still fueled by their narcissistic patterns, thinking who cares if they are going through a personal struggle, as long as they are on TV?
Side note: At the end of the book the NPI (Narcissistic Personality Inventory) is included. According to a published study by the authors, the average person scores a 15.3 and celebrities score a 17.3. I scored a 7.
July 26, 2014
An insightful book on the influence of celebrity narcissism on the attitude and behavior of the broader culture. Dr. Drew clinically analyzes the professional Hollywood culture and the reality TV celebrities who exhibit behaviors that are praised by the media but indicative of psychological problems that need treatment. The outrageous acting-out that indicates a need for treatment is praised by the celebrity and mainstream media then emulated by those in society who are vulnerable to such behavior by a desire to mirror the actions of the stars they admire or their own psychological fragility.
Drs. Pinsky and Young spend a great part of the book explaining narcissistic behaviors that are healthy and detrimental, personality disorders, factors that might be involved in the development of narcissistic personality disorders, and treatment suggestions. They also highlight the dangers of narcissistic culture on teens and adolescents and advise parents on how to prevent narcissism in their children.
Written in 2009, before the Miley Cyrus meltdown, Dr. Drew was very prophetic about how her life might develop if she did not receive treatment for this condition. He also discusses his objective in creating his own show, Celebrity Rehab to show the human side of the celebrities being treated for addiction and the trauma that often started them down their chaotic and disastrous path. He wanted to provide the knowledge and need for treatment associated with these behaviors that was missing in shows that glorified dysfunctions such as Real World and The Anna Nicole Show. I watched Celebrity Rehab because such treatment interests me and was moved by the story of Dennis Rodman, whom I disliked for his behavior, and in the end was hoping for his recovery and appreciating his humanity. I realized I had been caught up in his persona and forgot the humanity of a person, struggling and hurting on the inside, who was the victim of his own creation.
Until reality TV passes from the landscape, Dr. Drew's book serves as a reminder that there is little real about this edited, produced, and scripted fantasy world and much that is unhealthy in the lives of those who parade across our screens. Until society quits praising and mirroring such dysfunction and seeks a healthy life that brings positive value to others we must try to help those we can escape its downward spiral to self-destruction and prevent others from being seduced by the siren song of uninhibited passion, alcohol and drug abuse, and destructive behaviors into a trap that feeds self-loathing and emptiness.
Drs. Pinsky and Young spend a great part of the book explaining narcissistic behaviors that are healthy and detrimental, personality disorders, factors that might be involved in the development of narcissistic personality disorders, and treatment suggestions. They also highlight the dangers of narcissistic culture on teens and adolescents and advise parents on how to prevent narcissism in their children.
Written in 2009, before the Miley Cyrus meltdown, Dr. Drew was very prophetic about how her life might develop if she did not receive treatment for this condition. He also discusses his objective in creating his own show, Celebrity Rehab to show the human side of the celebrities being treated for addiction and the trauma that often started them down their chaotic and disastrous path. He wanted to provide the knowledge and need for treatment associated with these behaviors that was missing in shows that glorified dysfunctions such as Real World and The Anna Nicole Show. I watched Celebrity Rehab because such treatment interests me and was moved by the story of Dennis Rodman, whom I disliked for his behavior, and in the end was hoping for his recovery and appreciating his humanity. I realized I had been caught up in his persona and forgot the humanity of a person, struggling and hurting on the inside, who was the victim of his own creation.
Until reality TV passes from the landscape, Dr. Drew's book serves as a reminder that there is little real about this edited, produced, and scripted fantasy world and much that is unhealthy in the lives of those who parade across our screens. Until society quits praising and mirroring such dysfunction and seeks a healthy life that brings positive value to others we must try to help those we can escape its downward spiral to self-destruction and prevent others from being seduced by the siren song of uninhibited passion, alcohol and drug abuse, and destructive behaviors into a trap that feeds self-loathing and emptiness.
August 9, 2010
As a general population, we are consuming reality entertainment that actually reflects behaviors that reveal underlying psychological dysfunctions (e.g. childhood disconnection, trauma, self-hatred) and these behaviors are spreading to the culture at large, via narcissism. What we are witnessing is changing what we consider "normal" behavior.
Re: Narcissists - they are dissociated from their true selves and feel haunted by chronic feelings of loneliness, emptiness and self loathing. Other markers include a profound lack of empathy (a fundamental inability to understand and connect with the feelings of others), and a desire to replace the sense of disconnection with a sense of worth and importance, relying on others to provide that adulation. Lack of a sense of self is the hallmark of a narcissistic personality disorder.
Re: Reality TV - "These shows thrive on exploiting dysfunctional behavior, without ever exploring the complexities of the situations-and in so doing they allow viewers to sit in self-righteous judgment of these unfortunate families." And "the subtext of constant interpersonal drama speaks directly to the conflicts being played out in each episode: I am important. My problems are more important than yours. So watch me."
Re: Social networking sites - "Each time (dysfunctional & narcissistic) behavior is reflected back and forth, they become less shocking, more socially accepted, and more frequently rewarded with attention and encouragement."
Re: Narcissistic parents - When the children are seen as extensions of the parents, the children are expected to respond to the parents' needs. The children do not have a supportive, nurturing environment that meets their emotional needs (this is particularly so in the situation of divorce) and so the children learn that the only way to get their parents' approval is to meet their needs or risk emotional abandonment. Children do not form a healthy sense of self in this environment because they do not trust their relationships with others and thy mat feel empty, ashamed or obliged to meet someone else's needs at a critical time in their development.
Solutions - Identify narcissistic behavior, particularly your own, if it is creating a cycle of self-involvement and limiting your ability to connect with others. Acknowledge that celebrity lifestyles may be narcissistic and empty. Evaluate your own life and find nourishment and fulfillment in healthy, constructive ways that involve commitments to real people and relationships, including the one with ourselves.
Re: Narcissists - they are dissociated from their true selves and feel haunted by chronic feelings of loneliness, emptiness and self loathing. Other markers include a profound lack of empathy (a fundamental inability to understand and connect with the feelings of others), and a desire to replace the sense of disconnection with a sense of worth and importance, relying on others to provide that adulation. Lack of a sense of self is the hallmark of a narcissistic personality disorder.
Re: Reality TV - "These shows thrive on exploiting dysfunctional behavior, without ever exploring the complexities of the situations-and in so doing they allow viewers to sit in self-righteous judgment of these unfortunate families." And "the subtext of constant interpersonal drama speaks directly to the conflicts being played out in each episode: I am important. My problems are more important than yours. So watch me."
Re: Social networking sites - "Each time (dysfunctional & narcissistic) behavior is reflected back and forth, they become less shocking, more socially accepted, and more frequently rewarded with attention and encouragement."
Re: Narcissistic parents - When the children are seen as extensions of the parents, the children are expected to respond to the parents' needs. The children do not have a supportive, nurturing environment that meets their emotional needs (this is particularly so in the situation of divorce) and so the children learn that the only way to get their parents' approval is to meet their needs or risk emotional abandonment. Children do not form a healthy sense of self in this environment because they do not trust their relationships with others and thy mat feel empty, ashamed or obliged to meet someone else's needs at a critical time in their development.
Solutions - Identify narcissistic behavior, particularly your own, if it is creating a cycle of self-involvement and limiting your ability to connect with others. Acknowledge that celebrity lifestyles may be narcissistic and empty. Evaluate your own life and find nourishment and fulfillment in healthy, constructive ways that involve commitments to real people and relationships, including the one with ourselves.
February 12, 2019
Started reading it as a joke but finding it more worthwhile.
The first 80 pages were uninteresting coverage of pop culture, public narcissistic behavior. Was thinking of abandoning the book, but then found chapter defining narcissism intriguing. Particularly, the intro discussion of Greek story of Narcissus and drawing distinctions between egotism and narcissism. Drew defines narcissism as a personal inability to internalize emotions thru failed unlearned empathy leading to an unhappy, affirmation-seeking person. I'm skeptical though of Drews' development of this idea. The personality traits and test appear arbitrarily constructed, and many of the claims carry weak scientific confirmation (though still could be true).
Drew then pivots to a claim that celebrity culture (and especially 24-hour followings) embellishes a society into further narcissism. I am even more skeptical - where do we stop from saying all fantastical behaviors (books, movies, video games, advertisements) have a deleterious effect? Although I probably intuitively agree with Drew's assessment, I guess I'm not convinced of the broader theory. Take this passage, "So it's hardly surprising that we, as observers, would wish to be like [celebrities]. We project ourselves into that fantasy world... Step by step, we change our behavior to match that of the celebrities we admire and envy." It is not, however, maintained that a child becoming desensitized to a video game first-person shooter, makes them desire to kill as a resolution. Drew seems to only make the claim about reality culture by point about its degree. His point to include how these real-life behaviors don't have real-life consequences is more evidence. But how much does this affect erode?
I wonder of the consideration of it as a disorder that may be corrected. Don't know how scientifically valid the effort is but there's certainly intrigue to the idea.
still reading...
The first 80 pages were uninteresting coverage of pop culture, public narcissistic behavior. Was thinking of abandoning the book, but then found chapter defining narcissism intriguing. Particularly, the intro discussion of Greek story of Narcissus and drawing distinctions between egotism and narcissism. Drew defines narcissism as a personal inability to internalize emotions thru failed unlearned empathy leading to an unhappy, affirmation-seeking person. I'm skeptical though of Drews' development of this idea. The personality traits and test appear arbitrarily constructed, and many of the claims carry weak scientific confirmation (though still could be true).
Drew then pivots to a claim that celebrity culture (and especially 24-hour followings) embellishes a society into further narcissism. I am even more skeptical - where do we stop from saying all fantastical behaviors (books, movies, video games, advertisements) have a deleterious effect? Although I probably intuitively agree with Drew's assessment, I guess I'm not convinced of the broader theory. Take this passage, "So it's hardly surprising that we, as observers, would wish to be like [celebrities]. We project ourselves into that fantasy world... Step by step, we change our behavior to match that of the celebrities we admire and envy." It is not, however, maintained that a child becoming desensitized to a video game first-person shooter, makes them desire to kill as a resolution. Drew seems to only make the claim about reality culture by point about its degree. His point to include how these real-life behaviors don't have real-life consequences is more evidence. But how much does this affect erode?
I wonder of the consideration of it as a disorder that may be corrected. Don't know how scientifically valid the effort is but there's certainly intrigue to the idea.
still reading...
December 23, 2014
I found this book very insightful. The well-known Dr. Drew teams up with USC professor to take a look at celebrity narcissism and how it’s reflecting back on our culture. Explained in simple and clear terms, I had no trouble following this book and understanding the concepts. Like most pop-science books, it was a little draggy and dry at times but definitely worth the read. I also liked that his examples were a blend of real celebrities (Frankie Muniz, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Ritchie) and people squeezing the life out of their 15 minutes (that “leave Britney alone” guy).
One of the most insightful things I found from this book was how it clarified my understanding of narcissism. Rather than about too much self-love, it is actually a result of self-loathing and emptiness. Most people suffer a childhood trauma that cases them to lose the ability to empathize and look outward, rather than inward, for their sense of self and emotional fulfillment. This is only the tip of the iceberg since an entire chapter is devoted on the clinical understanding of this term.
The mirror effect is when social learning (modeling our behavior based off others we see) results in our society following a narcissistic model. This is especially important since teens go into another stage of natural narcissism because of certain brain development taking place. This same brain development also causes teens to be unreasonable on a scientifically studied level. I found that hilarious and a great explanation for several of my old roommates. I didn’t fully relate to the chapter about parenting and raising your teen (given that I am not a parent or raising a teen) but I did find them interesting.
Overall, I really liked this book and insight into the world of celebrity, wannabe celebrity, and the rise of narcissism. I would recommend it.
One of the most insightful things I found from this book was how it clarified my understanding of narcissism. Rather than about too much self-love, it is actually a result of self-loathing and emptiness. Most people suffer a childhood trauma that cases them to lose the ability to empathize and look outward, rather than inward, for their sense of self and emotional fulfillment. This is only the tip of the iceberg since an entire chapter is devoted on the clinical understanding of this term.
The mirror effect is when social learning (modeling our behavior based off others we see) results in our society following a narcissistic model. This is especially important since teens go into another stage of natural narcissism because of certain brain development taking place. This same brain development also causes teens to be unreasonable on a scientifically studied level. I found that hilarious and a great explanation for several of my old roommates. I didn’t fully relate to the chapter about parenting and raising your teen (given that I am not a parent or raising a teen) but I did find them interesting.
Overall, I really liked this book and insight into the world of celebrity, wannabe celebrity, and the rise of narcissism. I would recommend it.
October 16, 2012
This is the first book I've read that delves into seriously studying celebrities and how their behavior impacts the rest of us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learned that I had the definition of narcissism wrong. Looking at it the way Dr. Drew does, as envy, changes the perspective I have on celebrity behavior and on those who mirror their behavior or openly attack their behavior. This book deals particularly with millennials and how the diva-like personalities of many celebrities have become normal for non-celebrities. The main point of the book is to get people to stop the cycle of narcissism before it gets out of control.
Dr. Drew's take on the problems with current celebrity behavior is one of empathy, which he constantly refers back to throughout the book. There is a particularly interesting passage where Dr. Drew comments on how the public bashing of celebrities relates back to the primitive concept of human sacrifice. I've come across a lot of anti-empathic sentiments from younger millennials and teens on comments sections so I would have to agree with his plea for creating a more empathetic environment for today's youth.
While this book is geared towards the parents of teens, it is a useful tool for anyone working with children and teens. Millennials would especially benefit from reading this book. It will remind you to be more emotionally conscious of others and to not be too swift to judge the people on the other side of the mirror.
Dr. Drew's take on the problems with current celebrity behavior is one of empathy, which he constantly refers back to throughout the book. There is a particularly interesting passage where Dr. Drew comments on how the public bashing of celebrities relates back to the primitive concept of human sacrifice. I've come across a lot of anti-empathic sentiments from younger millennials and teens on comments sections so I would have to agree with his plea for creating a more empathetic environment for today's youth.
While this book is geared towards the parents of teens, it is a useful tool for anyone working with children and teens. Millennials would especially benefit from reading this book. It will remind you to be more emotionally conscious of others and to not be too swift to judge the people on the other side of the mirror.
January 2, 2011
Interesting book, from the perspective of both a psych major and a girl who hates reality TV but sometimes reads People magazine. Pinsky and Young look closely at the growing draw of celebrity "train wrecks" and the media and audience that support their continued scrutiny and popularity. I've always found the media's (and individual people's) fascination with the private personal struggles of celebrities intrusive and baffling, and the tearing down of once-idealized celebrities when they fall from grace even more disturbing. This book helped better understand some of the psychology underlying the shift in our culture of celebrity towards the gleeful skewering of troubled individuals in reality TV, magazines, and on the internet. And it provides people with some ways of looking in the mirror and understanding that behavior in ourselves, to enable us to be more empathetic and concentrate on the values in our real lives rather than the behavior we see on reality TV.
Although the central ideas are compelling, I found it somewhat meandering and in my opinion it could've been more tightly written, but I appreciate that it explores a cultural issue that few people take the time to notice and analyze.
It certainly gives me a renewed desire not to buy Us magazine, that's for sure.
Although the central ideas are compelling, I found it somewhat meandering and in my opinion it could've been more tightly written, but I appreciate that it explores a cultural issue that few people take the time to notice and analyze.
It certainly gives me a renewed desire not to buy Us magazine, that's for sure.
June 28, 2010
This book defines narcissism in an easy to understand format.
" Each one of us falls somewhere on the spectrum of narcissism. We are all born as complete narcissists and then, based upon our emotional development in early childhood, we arrive at our adult expression of these traits. A secure attachment to a parent nurtures empathy, high self-esteem, and self-awareness. But when traumatic experiences short-circuit the delicate process of empathic development, individuals become locked in patterns of grandiosity and emotional disconnection." (page 108)
The book shows connections between relationships and development and the impact on our narcissistic traits.
It also provides parenting tips to help prevent celebrity narcissism from influencing our kids own development.
I definitely recommend anyone to read this book. It will be worth the time.
" Each one of us falls somewhere on the spectrum of narcissism. We are all born as complete narcissists and then, based upon our emotional development in early childhood, we arrive at our adult expression of these traits. A secure attachment to a parent nurtures empathy, high self-esteem, and self-awareness. But when traumatic experiences short-circuit the delicate process of empathic development, individuals become locked in patterns of grandiosity and emotional disconnection." (page 108)
The book shows connections between relationships and development and the impact on our narcissistic traits.
It also provides parenting tips to help prevent celebrity narcissism from influencing our kids own development.
I definitely recommend anyone to read this book. It will be worth the time.
June 16, 2009
Let me just start off by saying that I love Dr. Drew. I think that he is such a an empathetic doctor and so dedicated. I really liked this book, but about halfway through it was repetitive information about addiciton, celebrities, and narcissism. However, I did learn a lot about what exactly narcissism is and Dr. Drew and his coauthor believe that celebrities don't become narcissists, they believe narcissists strive to be celebrities. He supports this thesis through many specific examples using of current celebrity behavior. It was interesting to see their behaviors (ie, Brittany Spears crotch shots) analyzed in a new way and it made sense. At the end of the book you can take a narsissism quiz and see how you score. There are also a few celebrity's scores.
March 17, 2013
Dr. Drew, though he works with many a famous starlet, still has the courage to blow the lid off on their dysfunctional pandering to fame, which is something to greatly respect and admire.
If you want to combat the Mirror Effect of mirroring famous and popular celebrities, check out another book called These Times! A Parody in Song form. It pokes fun at celebrities in a very unique, funny way, and makes you wonder why some people ever look up to them and their sometimes ludicrous behaviors. Good for impressionable children.
These Times! A Parody in Song form https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
If you want to combat the Mirror Effect of mirroring famous and popular celebrities, check out another book called These Times! A Parody in Song form. It pokes fun at celebrities in a very unique, funny way, and makes you wonder why some people ever look up to them and their sometimes ludicrous behaviors. Good for impressionable children.
These Times! A Parody in Song form https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
April 4, 2017
This book was an eye-opening revelation of some of the real, distressing consequences of our fascination with celebrities, and how constantly seeing their narcissistic behavior displayed for all to see, 24/7 is changing the way the public behaves in a detrimental way.
I think this book could actually be considered a valuable parenting tool, as there is a lot of info on child development, and how to help your child avoid becoming overly and dangerously narcissistic. This is something, given this day and age, that all parents will have to inoculate their children from, if they have any access to media in any way, shape, or form. Which trust me, no matter how much you protect your kid, they all do!
I think this book could actually be considered a valuable parenting tool, as there is a lot of info on child development, and how to help your child avoid becoming overly and dangerously narcissistic. This is something, given this day and age, that all parents will have to inoculate their children from, if they have any access to media in any way, shape, or form. Which trust me, no matter how much you protect your kid, they all do!
April 29, 2009
This book is a bit redundant, but Pinsky has a very interesting theory about the trend of outrageous celebrity behavior. He believes that narcissism is at the root of this. According to Pinsky, rather than narcissism being about self-love, it's more about self loathing which results in destructive behaviors such as addictions, food disorders and other mental dysfunctions. Unless narcissists work on the roots of these behaviors in an attempt to change them, they're destined to repeat the cycle with their own children or do great harm to themselves and those around them. There's also a quiz at the end that you can take to see where you rate on the scale of narcissistic tendencies.
July 25, 2009
I learned a lot from this book. I've learned to recognize the narcissistic traits in my personality, and hopefully I can keep them minimal to help improve my interpersonal relationships. I now understand how truly harmful celebrity gossip (and even personal gossip in general) can be. We all do it, but really these people need professional help to get back to a normal state. These are cries for help, not actions that should be mirrored and mimicked. Some of these things we all know, but it has practically become part of our DNA to heckle and put down people who are failing. That needs to change if we want our children to grow up normally, etc. Good stuff.
April 22, 2011
An interesting commentary on the rise/encouragement of narcissism in the world of entertainment "nooz" and reality TV, and raises some interesting questions about how this is affecting culture and in particular the developing minds of children and teenagers. Interesting ideas, somewhat unnecessarily lengthy and repetitive to this reader's ear, but really appreciative of the respectful tone Dr. Pinsky takes when discussing the celebrity starlets' flaming tumbles from destructive grace under the gleeful leering gaze of a venomous public. Like the ideas, but thought the material was somehow like a lengthy article rather than a satisfactory depth in a book.
July 28, 2011
Great book on how it reminds us that narcissism isn't about self-love, it is a attribute of self loathing. It does a good job on showing the after effects of the power of the media and how negative behaviors shown translates into a cultural norm for the impressionable particularly the youth looking for role models to ascribe an identity with. As in the title, living life in front of a mirror, the narcissist attempts to provoke a reaction in the observer, and the observer reacts back instead of responds by mimicking the actions of the narcissist back. This only continues to contribute to the existing toxic culture and lack of identity and security in young people.
December 14, 2011
The thing I like the most about Dr. Drew is the way he is able to relate and explain complex topics (behavior, emotions, psychology). He is so easy to understand without ever crossing the boundary into "I am a trained doctor and you are not." I also learned a lot about things I wonder about: why does the comments section of an online article have such blatantly cruel and odd commentary,and why do people build up celebrities and then tear them down with such glee (especially young women). He also gives a descriptive explanation of what narcissism is and the balance between healthy narcissistic characteristics and unhealthy.
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