Does camming breed narcissism for both model/member or were they already narcissists long before?

[DonaDiabla]

Also, you do not need narcissism to destory people. That is more of a Machiavellian thing to do...instead of narcissistic thing to do

You're on the right track. But the mistake you're making is when you say "need to destroy." You're making it about the other person. It's less about destroying them and more about getting them to suit your needs. Whether they are "destroyed" or not is irrelevant, unless that is your goal.

 

[JGenius]

Ummmm..narcissism does not help me learn to love myself. I already love myself and will upgrade myself for more profit Frankly, my main objection of being a cam model is to make money and have fun. My main objection of being a sex worker is to make money, have fun, be creative, and maintain power. I am non-nude model because I love the challenge of being creative and maintain my position of power without being nude. Narcissism has nothing to do with my sex worker career nor my lifestyle. Sex work is about making money, being creative, getting power, and being a better hustler for me. Nothing more nor less.

I'm talking in general not only Adult Webcam.
And i've mentionned that we all have a part of narcissism, but doesn't mean it's being narcissic.
I've class about this this year but to translate it it'll be hard.
Narcissism is linked to your inside personnality but it doesn't affect your social personnality (what you show to people).
If you're a narcissic person it'll affect you're social personality.

 

[Magnolia]

Hell no, at least not for me. If anything camming has helped me question myself more and be more conservative in my actions and appearances. I've become more self-reflective and less eager to share my personality openly and spontaneously. None of these are bad things, I've grown to be more honest with myself and what I put out. I don't need a huge ego to make tokens, I think the people that tip me enjoy my honesty towards myself. I use it to find what isn't working and either fix it or leave it behind instead of trying to force my egotistical, sub-par ventures on the people who watch me without ever growing as a camgirl. I've learned to grow in true ways instead of masking imperfections with fake confidence. Does it get a little dark and self-hating at times? Sure. But having an over-inflated ego can be just as bad if not worse, and on top of that you're not actually problem solving. It's like shoving your imperfections in a junk drawer and then forgetting about it until the drawer is too full. People appreciate honesty, you don't need a giant ego to be successful. I've learned to just be myself and work on my faults and I feel so much more appreciative of the things I do love about myself because I know I've worked very hard to get there.

Before camming I was a fake over-inflated egotistical robot to try and be successful and all it did was cause more harm than good. I'm glad camming has "broke" me. It stripped away all the fake back-patting and truly made me grow as a person.

 

[HanlonShaves]

I think some people may be confusing narcissism and confidence in true self. For me, before coming to MFC I was much more closed off and awkward in general. Through interactions and getting to know people, members and models alike, I've found people who brought me out of that shell. People who appreciate me for ME, not for the bits I cherrypicked to show them (metaphorically, no actual bits have been shown in the making of this sitemember). There are some checks and balances in it, too. The more people get to know you, the more likely they are to call you out when you're putting up a mask, or not acting like yourself.

 

[DonaDiabla]

Oh my dear, I understand psychology and I am telling you that I am not a narcissist. In fact, I am on the dark triad scale and I test super high on the machiavellian scale. It is like over the normal level of machiavellianism But I tested super low on the narcissism scale...so your findings will be quite flawed when it comes to my psychological makeup.

I'm talking in general not only Adult Webcam.
And i've mentionned that we all have a part of narcissism, but doesn't mean it's being narcissic.
I've class about this this year but to translate it it'll be hard.
Narcissism is linked to your inside personnality but it doesn't affect your social personnality (what you show to people).
If you're a narcissic person it'll affect you're social personality.

 

[JoleneBrody]

It seems almost every ones take of narcissism is way different than mine, and go on to describe things that I would consider narcissistic as reasons why they aren't.

I don't know how to properly describe my thoughts on it anymore, but I also don't want to be misunderstood as insulting all cam models before because of a general thought on the word narcissistic. Just wanna throw that out there, sorry if it read that way.

 

[JGenius]

Oh my dear, I understand psychology and I am telling you that I am not a narcissist. In fact, I am on the dark triad scale and I test super high on the machiavellian scale. It is like over the normal level of machiavellianism But I tested super low on the narcissism scale...so your findings will be quite flawed when it comes to my psychological makeup.

There is a misunderstood i think in what i've said, or maybe i should perform my english.
But i'll stop before being annoying

 

[Phoenix4987]

It seems almost every ones take of narcissism is way different than mine, and go on to describe things that I would consider narcissistic as reasons why they aren't.

I don't know how to properly describe my thoughts on it anymore, but I also don't want to be misunderstood as insulting all cam models before because of a general thought on the word narcissistic. Just wanna throw that out there, sorry if it read that way.

I understood what you were saying. Having a fragile self that needs to be hidden under an enormous ego is not in itself, a bad thing. Walking around wearing expensive clothing and checking yourself out in every mirror doesn't do anyone harm.

 

[JoleneBrody]

I understood what you were saying. Having a fragile self that needs to be hidden under an enormous ego is not in itself, a bad thing. Walking around wearing expensive clothing and checking yourself out in every mirror doesn't do anyone harm.

Nope, we were not on the same wave length.
maybe in the same region though

 

[Serenity_Tam]

I had many more narcissistic tendencies before camming. Camming opened my mind to different people, perspectives and TBH the more I cammed the less I believed people when they told me how hot I was, and the more I didn't care whether it was truth or not. I realized it was subjective. That there was so much more to me than my looks because almost ALL the gals on the site I was on were gorgeous, and some who I considered less conventionally attractive did way better than me. And then some more beautiful gals didn't do as well as me. I think my ego is less controlling in my world since camming. There was a time when I wouldn't leave my house dolled up, now, screw it, I live my real life as a troll. There are more important things.

Camming helped me see beauty and the external as more subjective. I had super hot members who annoyed the shit out of me, and members I adored with all my little heart strings that when I finally saw them saw they weren't as delicious as their personalities, and I learned in a way to remember those looks so subjective and they change.


Just kidding. I am perfect in all ways and better than all of you. lay dem compliments on me BB I live for those.

 

[Shutterbuck]

Narcissistic Personality Inventory

I recommend skipping the survey at the end if you know nothing about PF Chang's frozen whatevers...

 

[JoleneBrody]

Ok I got an 8 out of 40, mostly because of vanity...
I like that the survey broke down the different areas of narssism. you can be a person who is able to stare at themselves for hours at a time (vanity) for work and still be an empathic giving person who enjoys others.

 

[Sevrin]

you can be a person who is able to stare at themselves for hours at a time (vanity) for work

I just knew that's what hot chicks do!

 

[JoleneBrody]

I just knew that's what hot chicks do!

Well in camming... duh.

 

[schlmoe]

I was just thinking it would be an interesting topic of discussing since the forums are usually filled with the same tits and ass topics that get a little dull. But you can stick to the models only section if you feel it's more appropriate to talk about things that make you feel vulnerable there instead of replying in the public

Dude, you sound stressed. Maybe a vacation to Romania would soothe your nerves...

 

[xDollPartsx]

Eeeep I got an 18 out of 40... Haha mostly in vanity and authority and self sufficient being the highest. I actually agree with what @Magnolia said. It very closely mirrors my own experience. But it's one of those chicken or egg types of things I think... I strive to be a good person, be honest with myself and others so as to be conscious and empathetic to how my actions effect others as well as taking responsibility for my actions and words. But in knowing I excell at this I do realize it causes me to think of myself highly. I don't know if that's confidence in who I am as a person or narcissistic. Now my brain is in a spin haha as usual.. good topic!

 

[AmberCutie]

I got a 13 out of 40, mainly Vanity which is definitely due to camming, and partially in Authority and Entitlement, which I imagine has something to do with the power of influence and desire for respect I sometimes feel running this forum and being a known name in the camming community.

If I had taken that questionnaire before I started camming (and with it, ACF) I believe I'd have basically a 0.

So the answer to the question in my eyes is that camming did breed narcissism for me but not in huge amounts.

 

[Phoenix4987]

Certain environmental factors and definitely social constructs at an early age help mold our psychological makeup, or perhaps a malleable foundation for one. Life experiences and the inevitable need for change to adapt in a changing world also help to mold us into who we are. Compounded only further by reflecting on who we once were and definitely a will to become someone we want to be.

It's not just camming that has an effect on this specific personality trait, it was just a relevant one to use on the forums.

I'd say anyone in a position of power is vulnerable to become dependent (dependent being true narcissism and not just simple narcissistic traits) on the narcotic feeling it gives to them. Not willing to give it up so easily. (Think Smiegel from Lord of the Rings) When no one challenges them and they don't challenge themselves to keep their feet on the ground, then it can avalanche into something much much darker than just wanting to keep their ego afloat.

 

[VeronicaChaos]

One thing that was weird about the test, you often had to choose between being a follower and having others follow you. I would like the neither option. Is it narcissistic to not like to follow orders?

I got a 17, mostly vanity/authority/self sufficiency. 0 in exploitativeness, so that's cool.

 

[ExcellaExe]

That was also part of the stab

Seriously? You had to go there?

As to the topic, I'm not any more or less narcissistic as when I started. I am more self confident in my body and how to interact with others, but that isn't in and of itself narcissism.

 

[JickyJuly]

I scored pretty low on the narcissism quiz and wondered what the opposite of narcissism would be... it looks like that can be codependency? *Child of an addict and a narcissist married to an addict raises her hand* Cliche.
Humans are fascinating.

 

[Phoenix4987]

Is it narcissistic to not like to follow orders?

For the most part, yes. But I can think of times where you can "follow orders" and be narcissistic about it.

A group project at school for example. Maybe the project is so mundane and small to not warrant the desire to be the leader and control every aspect of who does what. Maybe instead it's better to let someone else be the "leader" and manipulate them into giving you the task that you want to do in the project. You can spend your time and energy doing the things you want instead of having to feel obligated and take extra time out of your life to make sure everybody else is doing their part for a project that feels so minuscule to you. You don't care and you're confident you're going to get a good grade anyway.

This is different from laziness because laziness usually constitutes procrastination and lack of motivation. In the above example, it's more about not granting even more of your precious time and energy into something that doesn't deserve your attention. If it won't grant extraordinary reputation gains or lead to a position that could grant this praise, then it isn't worth the time of day to have your name stamped on a low-yielding and time-consuming matter.

 

[justjoinedtopost]

One thing that was weird about the test, you often had to choose between being a follower and having others follow you. I would like the neither option. Is it narcissistic to not like to follow orders?

Several questions on that test like that. Some could have honestly answered either way depending on how I wanted to look at it. Felt kind of like the real test was to see if people would complete it.

 

[Sevrin]

Several questions on that test like that. Some could have honestly answered either way depending on how I wanted to look at it. Felt kind of like the real test was to see if people would complete it.

Yeah, like I'm extremely confident in my abilities in some areas, like the minutiae of the work I've been doing for the past 25 years and some other areas of interest, but not confident at all in my abilities in most other areas.

 

[Nordling]

I don't think being in a position of authority makes one narcissistic. One of the best and nicest bosses I had in my life tried to refuse the promotion; the authority just didn't interest him; but instead, he became a thoughtful, professional manager. Promotion to authority at best (or worst) will simply cause traits already there to be more manifest or noticeable.

 

[fandango]

I don't think being in a position of authority makes one narcissistic. One of the best and nicest bosses I had in my life tried to refuse the promotion; the authority just didn't interest him; but instead, he became a thoughtful, professional manager. Promotion to authority at best (or worst) will simply cause traits already there to be more manifest or noticeable.

This is true but the kind of people most likely to end up in positions of authority will be the ones who seek it out and are therefore quite narcassistic. It's much rarer for people to be thrown into leadership roles and excelling while not actually wanting the role in the first place.

 

[n_i_c_u]

I took the test and scored a 5. I think that is real life though where I can't process the reality so quick. I am slow to pick up on stuff. But I always feel like a narcissist when on cam sites (when I look at myself honestly as in this discussion). I'm the worst, sloppiest, tipper you have never met, but I love the attention and seem to try to stick up for myself maybe too much even though I know I am totally replaceable as a member a week or month down the line. I'm guessing I am a narcissist.

 

[Sevrin]

This is true but the kind of people most likely to end up in positions of authority will be the ones who seek it out and are therefore quite narcassistic. It's much rarer for people to be thrown into leadership roles and excelling while not actually wanting the role in the first place.

I think that the reason is that some people just like doing things where they can see tangible results of their efforts. What management positions often really involve is a lot of tedious administrative work and watching numbers go up and down.

 

[Nordling]

This is true but the kind of people most likely to end up in positions of authority will be the ones who seek it out and are therefore quite narcassistic. It's much rarer for people to be thrown into leadership roles and excelling while not actually wanting the role in the first place.

Agree. And I think it's unfortunate. The ideal leader to me is a reluctant leader...but one who does the best job he/she can, and with empathy.

 

[ExcellaExe]

For what it's worth, on the test I got a whopping 2, lol. I won't lie and say I'm not somewhat self-centered (I am a camgirl after all, and work in a male dominated field for my day job, I have to look out for myself or no one else will), but I tend to recognize that other people would be better leaders than I would in a certain circumstance, while at the same time I am an authority/expert on certain areas in my fields of study. So... balance?

Agree. And I think it's unfortunate. The ideal leader to me is a reluctant leader...but one who does the best job he/she can, and with empathy.

Agreed. All my bosses that I've had that were good weren't vying for the position, but stepped up to the plate when it meant the difference between the team being disrupted or them becoming somewhat uncomfortable and given more responsibility. All the terrible bosses I've had were narcissistic with a capital N. My last one before my current job was mentally and emotionally abusive to me in order to establish her dominance, which she needn't have done, I was her paralegal ffs. No empathy whatsoever.