The question of why some people develop a social conscience and others don't has always fascinated me. In college, I did an independent research project as part of my psychology degree that examined the factors that determined the development of a social conscience. The project examined why some people are considerate of the needs of others and some people are narcissists. I looked at a number of factors that may be involved in the formation of social conscience but the one that stood out from the other explanations was how secure you were in your own identity. Speaking in broad terms insecure people tended to be more narcissistic and secure people with their identity tended to be more charitable to others. It is important to also recognize that personal identity and security with your own identity is on a spectrum and not black and white. Narcissistic people are on a range from mildly selfish to the extreme of a sadist narcissist.
So bringing this issue to our current time we see this being played out with our pandemic. The resistance to wearing a mask and respecting the social distancing guidelines are a good test of your level of narcissism. In its most extreme form attending a large Super Bowl party this year to yell and drink with a crowd is the most extreme form of narcissism I can think of. Coming after the surge of deaths with the Christmas and New Years' celebrations attending a Super Bowl party today outside your own home with your household members is a form of narcissism getting too close to the sadist level.
P.S.
It is always interesting that advertisers have to refer to the Super Bowl as "the Big Game" in their ads. The name Super Bowl is a trademark owned by the NFL and you can be sued by the NFL for using the name as a trademark infringement unless you pay them for the right to use the name. The Olympics have also jealously guarded its trademark of their name and have only allowed the Special Olympics to use the word.
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