The concept of narcissism in the modern cultural paradigm

Abstract

The article is devoted to the concept of narcissism in the modern cultural paradigm, which demonstrates the actualization of new patterns of behavior in society. The phenomenon of narcissism has developed into a narcissistic culture, which is a manifestation of modern sociocultural processes. The theoretical basis of this phenomenon dates back to ancient philosophy, but later psychoanalytic research gave a great impetus to the development of the phenomenological field of narcissism and contemporary philosophical understanding. Narcissism continues to gradually “shape” theories of its existence, as well as provide a basis for studying the worldview of modern man and his existence. This is perceived by modern researchers as an era of narcissism, in which there are many diverse and controversial issues that require further consideration and a more defined construct.

The average person of our time is characterized as a person with a clearly defined narcissistic radical who supports the theory of mass narcissism in various scientific circles. Starting with psychoanalytic theory, the concept of narcissism has attracted the attention not only of psychoanalysts but also of professional philosophers. In identifying transformations in approaches to the classical theory of narcissism, we can refer to the works of Jean Baudrillard, J. Lipovetsky, and other authors who have studied contemporary society and the manifestation of the phenomenon of mass narcissism in it. The values reflected by society today are closely linked to the narcissistic structure of personality, but narcissistic culture is still very young, and we do not know its full potential for development. What directions in the theory of narcissism exist today and how does the classical approach to understanding narcissism differ in the modern cultural paradigm? These questions require philosophical analysis. Based on the works of contemporary philosophers, we can trace the interaction between consumer culture, mass communication, and the individual human psyche.

Comparing two approaches, socio-philosophical and existential-psychological, an integrative concept of narcissism is proposed, combining cultural and existential dimensions of this phenomenon. The author considers narcissism as a key category of the modern cultural paradigm.