The problem with questions like the 40 on the NPI test<http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-16-pinsky-quiz_N.htm>is that the intelligent test-taker will immediately perceive the intended goal of the exam and be capable of influencing the results at will. Since most of the questions represent two extreme endpoints of a given social response, the appropriate answer in many cases is "NA", allowing the respondent to answer as his inclinations dictate. IMO, only a rather average or sub-average intellect would allow himself to get caught out by such a transparent guise.
Of course, we are talking about narcissists here. On FRIAM... --Doug On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 8:27 AM, glen e. p. ropella < g...@agent-based-modeling.com> wrote: > > In that first article: > > http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-03-23-health-poll-favorable_N.htm > > They emphasize the entitlement aspect of narcissism. In the DSM-IV, > entitlement is only a minor diagnostic element, far superseded by > grandiosity, fantasies of success, specialness, lack of empathy, etc. > > Below are the 6 questions from "The Mirror Effect" intended to estimate > a person's NPI: > > 5. A. The thought of ruling the world frightens the hell out of me. > B. If I ruled the world it would be a better place. > > 14. A. I insist upon getting the respect that is due me. > B. I usually get the respect that I deserve. > > 18. A. I just want to be reasonably happy. > B. I want to amount to something in the eyes of the world. > > 24. A. I expect a great deal from other people. > B. I like to do things for other people. > > 25. A. I will never be satisfied until I get all that I deserve. > B. I take my satisfactions as they come. > > 27. A. I have a strong will to power. > B. Power for its own sake doesn't interest me. > > What intrigues me are the dichotomies set up by those questions. > > Then, in a newer article from yesterday, they talk about the differences > between a poll conducted before the health care bill was passed and > after it was passed. > > > http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-03-23-health-poll-favorable_N.htm > > "In the new USA TODAY survey and one taken a month ago, the biggest > shift toward support of the bill was among low-income Americans, > minorities and those under 40. That has created a yawning age divide: A > solid majority of seniors oppose the bill; a solid majority of those > younger than 40 favor it." > > So, clearly there's some correlation between age and a positive view of > the bill. Based on the (perhaps false) dichotomies of the above > questions, the question these two articles raise is whether the > correlation is caused by self-interest, perhaps a growing sense of > entitlement in younger people, or by altruism, perhaps a growing sense > of the commons. > > I suppose I would tend to think we're looking at a duality. The sense > of entitlement is, somehow, the same as the sense of the commons, the > obligation to share a social burden. > > Again, this leads me to speculate that this increase in that particular > narcissistic trait (entitlement/commons) might be correlated with > hyper-connectivity. > > -- > glen e. p. ropella, 971-222-9095, http://agent-based-modeling.com > > >
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