Are Top Legal Tweeters Socially Disruptive Narcissists?

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By Alex Aldridge on

It was with grave concern for Preiskel & Co’s David Allen Green – Britain’s only lawyer with a Facebook fan page – that I read of recent research establishing a link between how many Facebook friends you have, and how much of a “socially disruptive” narcissist you are.

The research, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, also found that narcissists respond more aggressively to derogatory comments made about them.

A raft of revisionist interpretations of Green’s (@JackofKent) notorious January Twitter bust-up with Charon QC are now expected.

The academics from Western Illinois University who conducted the study measured two “socially disruptive” elements of narcissism: grandiose exhibitionism and entitlement/exploitativeness.

Symptoms of the former include “self-absorption, vanity, superiority, and exhibitionistic tendencies”.

People who score highly on this aspect of narcissism have to always be the centre of attention. In order to achieve this, they say shocking, often overly personal things because they hate being ignored.

Entitlement/exploitativeness includes “a sense of deserving respect and a willingness to manipulate and take advantage of others” – which I realise I’m doing somewhat by featuring Green in this article (yes, I’m also a narcissist, albeit a less successful one).

Enjoy social media a little too much? Worried that you too could be a narcissist? Here’s the full ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ checklist:

1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

3. Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

4. Requires excessive admiration

5. Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favourable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

6. Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

8. Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her

9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviours or attitudes