How Many Facebook Friends Do You Have? Study Links Narcissism and Facebook Activity

[Donger]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blog...-abc-news.html

For the average narcissist, Facebook is tool that may promote anti-social behavior.

Facebook "offers a gateway for hundreds of shallow relationships and emotionally detached communication," according to study by Western Illinois University professor Christopher Carpenter.

The study was published this month in Personality and Individual Differences, the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences.

In the study, Carpenter defined narcissism as "a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration and an exaggerated sense of self-importance," according to a press release from the university.

Using a Narcissistic Personality Inventory, Carpenter and his students surveyed 292 people - most of whom were college students - to measure "self-promoting" Facebook behavior, such as people posting status updates, their photos, updating profile information; as well as "anti-social behaviors," including seeking social support more than providing it, getting angry when others do not comment on status updates and retaliating against negative comments.

People who score higher on the inventory promoted themselves more on Facebook - by tagging themselves and updating their newsfeeds more frequently, and by having more friends on Facebook, according to a report in the Guardian newspaper.

The study concluded that grandiose exhibitionism correlated with anti-social behavior on Facebook. Self-esteem was negatively related to self-promotion and anti-social behaviors on the site.

"In general, the 'dark side' of Facebook requires more research in order to better understand Facebook's socially beneficial and harmful aspects in order to enhance the former and curtail the latter," Carpenter said.

Social media sites, particularly Facebook and Twitter, have long been criticized for being vehicles for meaningless relationships, and have recently been mentioned in connection with making bullying easier and more pervasive.

[Radar Chief]

Don’t have a Facebook account.
Only reason I ever had a MySpace account is because Mrs. Radar signed me up for one.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

That you are pretty much in the minority?

I dunno..I'm more with this guy :

Originally Posted by notorious

I glance at a page when my wife is on and think,"Who the **** cares, and who the **** thinks that anyone cares about their daily lives?"

You would have to really think the world revolves around you to do that shit.

[Stewie]

I much prefer Twitter. I can follow people (mostly sports related) and not have to have them be my friend. I think I follow around 100 writers, players, coaches, etc.

As for Facebook, I joined about three years ago and check it about once a week. Pretty much worthless and really annoying. It's just as the story says. It's dominated by narcissistic people posting things no one cares about. I have about 30 friends and it's dominated by about 3-4 people that never have anything to offer other than, "Look at me! Look at me!"

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Stewie

I much prefer Twitter. I can follow people (mostly sports related) and not have to have them be my friend. I think I follow around 100 writers, players, coaches, etc.

As for Facebook, I joined about three years ago and check it about once a week. Pretty much worthless and really annoying. It's just as the story says. It's dominated by narcissistic people posting things no one cares about. I have about 30 friends and it's dominated by about 3-4 people that never have anything to offer other than, "Look at me! Look at me!"

That's how I feel. I use facebook only so I can see information from a particular group. Twitter is much more enjoyable to me.

You guys have to learn to unsubscribe from the people who are attention whores. Some people post really interesting stuff sometimes.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Phobia

You guys have to learn to unsubscribe from the people who are attention whores. Some people post really interesting stuff sometimes.

My friends are mostly family, including the annoying posters. The people who are interesting in real life rarely, if ever, post.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

No shit.

People are obsessed with themselves.

newsflash!

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by Stewie

My friends are mostly family, including the annoying posters. The people who are interesting in real life rarely, if ever, post.

That is why I enjoy it, our family is spread from coast to coast. You can drop in on them a little, get a feel for what is going on, then leave.

[WV]

I enjoy it to keep in touch with family and a few co-workers. The private group function is what I use the most and have a little over 100 friends, not sure the exact number.

[Fish]

Pisses me off...

[Bugeater]

I try to keep my friend list to around 100, it's overdue for some pruning right now. What I don't get is the people that send friend requests, and then you never hear another ****ing thing from them. That drives me nuts more than the attention whores.

[Braincase]

I use mine to keep in touch with family, coworkers, my professional community, friends, high school and college classmates, and my students.

Oh, and a few nutjobs I know from bulletin boards.

[R8RFAN]

104 friends and about 80 of those I don't like or talk too.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by ricoswaff

1412. Which every time I see that, it seems odd to me because it doesn't feel like I know that many people.

You don't. That's the point.

[listopencil]

Oh- I have 85 friends on FB. There are about 5 that I did not meet in real life first.