Cultural Narcissism as an Adaptive Strategy in Contemporary Academia

Universities around the world are undergoing a marketisation process in order to respond to consumer-oriented demands. Despite priority shifts, universities have remained traditionally hierarchical and elitist. Moreover, a new and growing generation of academic researchers has found it increasingly difficult to integrate in academia. Systems and patterns of behaviour breeding cultural narcissism, intended as a value system characterised by an investment in false self-projections backed by Machiavellian attainment, exist and appear to thrive in academic institutions. This organizational adaptation for survival can be seen as toxic and interlinked with workplace bullying and academic misconduct. The problematics we are witnessing today in many academic settings (high percentages of mental health issues, widespread research misconduct scandals and loss of credibility of academic research) could be explained through the lens of a narcissistic culture. Amidst economic difficulties, it might seem reasonable to adopt measures aimed at increasing assets and invest in highly entrepreneurial academics who attract financial resources to universities. Yet this same strategy might be promoting and perpetuating value systems that are undermining academic integrity, and therefore contributing to the scientific credibility crisis and failure of academic institutions.