‘Me’ society is growing, psychologist says

Newport Beach resident and psychologist Jay Slosar sees patients at his Orange County practice every day who drive nice cars, own beautiful homes and have great careers, but feel empty inside.

“They are out of control in a lot of ways,” Slosar said. “They have a lot of nice things, but they aren’t happy.”

Slosar drew inspiration from those patients for his new book “The Culture of Excess: How Americans Lost Self-Control and Why We Need to Redefine Success.”

In his book, Slosar argues that American culture and mass media have encouraged an atmosphere of self-entitlement, consumerism and narcissism.

During 25 years in clinical practice, Slosar noticed a change in his patients over the years.

They seemed to be more self-centered and lacked self control.

Slosar labeled the condition he saw in his patients as “cultural narcissism.”

“They were more narcissistic, focused on ‘me,’ but they were responding a lot to cultural pressures, and didn’t have narcissistic personality disorder,” Slosar said.

From Kanye West grabbing the microphone away from Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards to Rep. Joe Wilson shouting “You lie!” to President Obama during a speech to Congress, Slosar argues, cultural narcissism is everywhere.

The nation’s growing problems with health problems related to obesity, and mounting personal debt, also are symptoms of this much bigger problem, he said.

“Entitlement, grandiosity, immediacy, the feeling of being special and higher levels of expectations have become more a part of our culture, so we’re all caught up in,” Slosar said. “That leads to increased risk-taking.”

Outside of his practice in Irvine, Slosar is an adjunct assistant professor at Chapman University.

He also is a past president of the Orange County Physiological Assn.

The author will sign copies of his new book from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 20 at Martha’s Bookstore on Balboa Island, 308 1/2 Marine Ave.

If You Go

What: Book signing for Newport Beach resident, psychologist and author Jay Slosar

When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 20

Where: Martha’s Bookstore on Balboa Island, 308 1/2 Marine Ave.

More Information: www.cultureofexcess.com