narcissism in music performance: singers versus instrumentalists
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NARCISSISM IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE: SINGERS VERSUS INSTRUMENTALISTS
Sarah Kettner1 & Richard Parncutt2
1University of Music and Performing Arts Graz Austria2University 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 TheoriesSigmund 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
QuantitativeStandardised Narcissistic Personality Inventory
(NPI)Schröder/Schütz (2005)Subscale dimensions: Leadership, physical vanity, entitlement, arrogance, ambition and competence belief
QualitativePerformance motivation questionnaire - Kettner
(2007) non standardisedRecognition, 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 18-35 No self-selection
Participant SampleTotal 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 65
23
7
31 1 1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Singer Violinist Pianist Oboist Trumpeter Flautist Cellist
Per
cent
Singers are not significantly more narcissistic than instrumentalists
0,54
0,48 0,470,43
0,46
0,0
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
Singers Instrumentalists Technical Students Choristers Psychology Students
Mea
n of
Nar
ciss
istic
Mea
sure
Physical vanity of singers versus instrumentalists and controls
0,68
0,520,50 0,51 0,52
0,0
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
Singers Instrumentalists Technical Students Choristers Psychology Students
Mea
n of
Phy
sica
l Van
ity S
ubsc
ale
Singers have sig. higher competence belief than instrumentalists and controls
0,58
0,45
0,40
0,500,53
0,0
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
Singers Instrumentalists Technical Students Choristers Psychology Students
Mea
n of
Com
pete
nce
Bel
ief S
ubsc
ale
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. df df error F-value Sig
Leadership 1 155 0,602 0,439
Vanity 1 155 0,060 0,807
Entitelment 1 155 0,042 0,839
Superiority 1 155 0,813 0,369
Ambition 1 155 9,576 0,002**
Comp. Bel. 1 155 0,384 0,536
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
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 of Personality 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.
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