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

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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:

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