NARCISSISM IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE: SINGERS VERSUS INSTRUMENTALISTS Sarah Kettner 1 & Richard Parncutt 2 1 University of Music and Performing Arts Graz Austria 2 University of Graz Austria

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

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)

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?

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

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

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 No self-selection

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

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

Singers are not significantly more narcissistic than instrumentalists

Physical vanity of singers versus instrumentalists and controls

Singers have sig. higher competence belief than instrumentalists and controls

Correlations between performance motivation and narcissistic measures

Performance majors are sig. more ambitious than pedagogy majors

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

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

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 Between Subjects Eff.dfdf errorF-valueSig Leadership11550,6020,439 Vanity11550,0600,807 Entitelment11550,0420,839 Superiority11550,8130,369 Ambition11559,5760,002** Comp. Bel.11550,3840,536

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)

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

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