Updating Christopher Lasch’s 1979 “Culture of Narcissism”
Modern society, particularly in urban hubs such as Los Angeles, is witnessing the rise of a peculiar phenomenon: a culture not of narcissism (or not only of narcissism), as Christopher Lasch identified in 1979, but of fabricated self-importance. I would update the full title of Lasch’s book from The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectationsto The Culture of Fabricated Self-Importance: American Life in an Age of Increasing Expectations.
Some might view this trend as a rise in personal “empowerment,” but this empowerment feels more like revenge manifesting in the form of blatant disregard for propriety and civility. It is not the egregious self-aggrandizing often associated with narcissism but rather a performative display of putative superiority designed to navigate social hierarchies and extract maximum transactional utility from all interactions. Unlike narcissism, fabricated self-importance is more conscious, intentional, and strategic — a calculated facade aimed at promoting fake dominance and value in a highly competitive albeit fictional socioeconomic game.
I believe that narcissism is a subconscious defense mechanism that stems from an internalized reaction provoking an erroneous belief in a person’s supposed “superiority;” however, it is often coupled with a fragile ego that craves validation. It is evinced by personality traits such as entitlement, grandiosity, and a lack of empathy but is slightly less toxic than pure sociopathy. In contrast, fabricated self-importance is less about internal conviction and more about external performance, as evident by “social” media, which I usually refer to as “business” media since most people I see on it are creating brands or selling a service or product. This fabrication involves the deliberate construction of an image — often through signs like exaggerated busyness or hierarchical posturing including socioeconomic status signaling as well as virtue signaling — to appear superior to others.
And yet, of the thousands of these important people I’ve met socially in Los Angeles, none of them is curing leukemia. Most of them are just propagating their brands and trying to increase their followers. This constructed social capital is transactional: projecting importance and “success” opens doors to more financial opportunities and influence. This behavior thrives on the perception that one’s time, attention, and resources are somehow more valuable than those of other human beings.
One of the most troubling aspects of our culture is how it has normalized overt rudeness. In social and professional settings alike, people increasingly treat others as stepping stones rather than human beings. This manifests in behaviors such as dismissive attitudes toward service workers, condescending remarks to subordinates, and ghosting acquaintances deemed “beneath” us on the capitalist food chain.
Many people hesitate to call out such misbehavior for fear of future repercussions. In cities like Los Angeles — where networking and nepotism reign supreme — relationships are often viewed through the lens of potential utility: decrying someone’s rudeness risks burning a bridge that might later prove advantageous. This reluctance to confront misbehavior perpetuates a cycle in which individuals feel emboldened to act with impunity.
Because the stakes are relatively high in Los Angeles, the city offers a unique case study in fabricated self-importance through the common practice of “double-booking.” Here, individuals schedule two or more meetings for the same time slot with no intention of honoring one — or possibly any — of the commitments. Instead, they wait until the last minute to decide which meeting offers greater transactional value or cancel all as a power play to signal their supposed indispensability. Words such as “A-list client,” “urgent matter,” and “closing a deal” often appear next to the words “must cancel;” words such as “I’m sorry” and “Can we please reschedule for tomorrow?” seldom appear. This bad behavior epitomizes the performative nature of fabricated self-importance. By canceling planned meetings, weak and fear-based people reinforce hierarchical denigration by implicitly devaluing others.
Personally, I don’t respond when someone cancels a meeting at the last minute via text message and I also delete their contact information. But in my fantasy life, I send them a response that reads,“Oh, that’s a shame because Oprah is here to wash our feet while Brad reads poetry over Taylor’s guitar strumming. I’m sure whatever you’re doing is super super important!”
While double-booking may occasionally stem from legitimate scheduling conflicts, human error, or bona fide stupidity, its intentional use as status signaling reflects deeper cultural dysfunction. In professional environments where reputations are currency, few are willing to risk alienating someone who might later have influence over their careers or social standing. As a result, calling out fabricated self-importance is not only risky but also disrupts the carefully constructed illusions upon which many relationships are built.
When relationships are transactional rather than reciprocal, they erode empathy and respect and create a toxic environment where compassion and humility are devalued. In striving to project fabricated self-importance, people lose their true selves and identify with their bank accounts and LIKE-s rather than secure human attachments. The performative nature of fabricated self-importance leaves little room for vulnerability or genuine connection — qualities essential for meaningful relationships and personal fulfillment. Even the phrase friend group has a bizarre business-like connotation.
Addressing this cultural phenomenon — which ultimately resolves to individual malaise — requires collective action. We need to prioritize authenticity, connection, and love instead of fake status and putative “power.” People must learn to value relationships for their compassion and affection rather than their financial or status utility. Personally, when I want to connect with someone, I send a note that reads: “Let’s meet for coffee, please! No agenda!”
When bad behavior occurs, we have to decide individually how to respond: we can be vulnerable and tell the person how disappointed we are; we can criticize their rudeness; or we can write them off as friends. This is a choice we all have to make on a case-by-case basis.
On a grander level, what we really have to do as a civilization is redefine success. We need to shift our metrics away from the appearances promoted on social media — overtly fabricated “status” and superficial markers of importance — and move toward valuing and rewarding empathy, compassion, personal integrity, and collaboration.
The rise of fabricated self-importance represents a distinctly troubling phenomenon on par with dealing with true narcissists. Rudeness erodes trust; performance prioritizes transactional utility over authenticity. By addressing these accepted yet insufferable behaviors, we can begin to rebuild a culture grounded in mutual respect and genuine connection rather than feigned superiority, power, “success,” and supposed status.
Ira is a qualified Clinical Counselor, based in Santa Monica, United States.
With a commitment to mental health, Mr Israel provides services in English and French, including Coaching (Business), Counselling, Counselling (Career), Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy (CBT), Relationship Counselling and Therapy (Imago Relationship).
Mr Israel has expertise in Abandonment, Abuse (Emotional / Physical), Anxiety Disorders, Career Issues, Depression, Relationship Counselling, Self-Care, Self-Doubt and Self-Esteem.
Click here to schedule a session with Mr Israel.
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