NARCISSISM IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE: SINGERS VERSUS INSTRUMENTALISTS

1. NARCISSISM IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE: SINGERS VERSUS INSTRUMENTALISTS Sarah Kettner1 & Richard Parncutt21University of Music and Performing Arts Graz Austria2University of Graz Austria

2. History of Narcissism • Greek mythology to modern psychology • Competitive markets emphasise self-confidence, self-assurance, self-worth • Narcissism defined in this research – Subject libidinal investment or self-love

3. Leading Theories Sigmund Freud “On Narcissism: An Introduction” (1914) Ego Theory Heinz Kohut “The Analysis of Self” (1971) introduced the unified self “idealized” & “mirror” Otto Kernberg “Early Ego Integration and Object Relations” (1972); “Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism” (1975)

4. The Performing Psyche • Are performing musicians predisposed to narcissism? • Is performance motivation affected by narcissistic gratification? • Does a singer’s libidinal Identification with their instrument affect their overall narcissism?

5. Goals • Explore differences between singers’ and instrumentalists’ behaviour in relation to narcissism • Compare narcissistic levels with performance motivation

6. Method • Quantitative • Standardised Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI)Schröder/Schütz (2005) Subscale dimensions: Leadership, physical vanity, entitlement, arrogance, ambition and competence belief • Qualitative • Performance motivation questionnaire - Kettner (2007) non standardised Recognition, self-expression, creativity, payment, fame, self-affirmation and exhibitionism

7. Participants Experimental Group • Music universities N=156 Control Group • Technical universities (diverse disciplines) N=36 • Department of Psychology (U Graz) N=165 • Choristers N=67 Sampling criteria • Age 18-35 • No self-selection

8. Participant Sample Total sample consist of 424 persons, (273 women and 151 men). Their mean age was 26.6

9. “Who is the most egoistic musician?”Response to prejudice question

10. Singers are not significantly more narcissistic than instrumentalists

11. Physical vanity of singers versus instrumentalists and controls

12. Singers have sig. higher competence belief than instrumentalists and controls

13. Correlations between performance motivation and narcissistic measures

14. Performance majors are sig. more ambitious than pedagogy majors

15. Results and Discussion • Complexity of narcissism compounded by associated characteristics such as exhibitionism • Overt and covert aspects of narcissim were not distinguished in this research

16. Singers versus instrumentalists • Singers, unlike instrumentalists embody their instrument • Singers not more narcissistic despite prevailing prejudice • Higher scores on sub-scales physical vanity and competence belief

17. Pedagogy versus performance majors • Higher scores of ambition in performance majors could be due to differences in employment opportunities • Degree courses in music education cover a wider range of topics – not only performance

18. Narcissism – Malignant or benign? • Narcissism is positively related to psychological health (Sedikeset al., 2004) • Performing artists’ motivational ideals are consciously or unconsciously influenced by narcissistic and exhibitionistic compulsions. The drive to be loved, admired and to exhibit something of themselves on the stage provides a compelling source of gratification for stage artists (Hamilton, 1997)

19. Pedagogic Implications • Increased awareness of their own narcissisistic compulsions and those of their students help teachers avoid exploiting their admiration • Striving for self-fulfillment and self-gratification are intrinsically linked with the will to survive and related to the motivational drive • Musicians who develop and sustain a consistent sense of identity can contend with the punishing polarity of public adulation or criticism

20. Literature Selection • Baumeister, R. F., Bushman, B. J., & Campell, W.K. (2000) Self-esteem, narcissism and aggression: Does violence result from low self-esteem or from threatened egotism? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 26-29. • Freud, S., Ed. J. Sandler et al.(1999). On narcissism: An introduction New Haven: Yale University Press. • Hamilton, L. H. (1989). In pursuit of the ideal: Narcissism and the performing artist. Doctoral dissertation. Adelphi University. • Hamilton, L. H. (1998). The person behind the mask. Greenwich: Ablex Publishing Corporation. • Jacoby, M. (1999). Individuation and narcissism, the psychology of Self in Jung and Kohut.New York: Brunner-Routledge. • Kohut, H. (1971). The analysis of the Self. New York: International Universities Press. • Maccoby, M. (2003). Die Musik als Geliebte. Hessen: Psychosozial-Verlag. • Neumann, E. (1966). Narcissism, Normal Self-formation and the Primary Relation to the Mother. New York: Analytical Psychology Club. • Sedikides, C.,Gregg, A., Rudich, E., & Kumashiro, M. (2004). Are normal narcissists psychologically healthy? Journal ofPersonality and Social Psychology, 87, 400-416. Washington: APA. • Wigfield, A., Eccles, J. S., Schiefele, U., Roeses, R. W., & Davis-Kean, P. (2006). Development of achievement motivation. In N. Eisenberg, W. Damon & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of psychology (pp. 933-988). Hoboken: Wiley. • Winnicott, D. W. (1971). Playing and Reality, London: Travistock Publications.