Compliments of Helga Weber via Flickr

Narcissism is increasing, with more Americans feeling entitled to special treatment (and feeling incensed when they don’t receive it). I think that ourself-focus – and the closeness we feel with our things – are intertwined. Excess materialism, individualistic performance appraisal, and competitive practice unearth our worst behavior. A society in which “gimme, gimme, gimme” is the norm spawns beings who are stingy, selfish, and reactive when they don’t get their own way. Turn the page…