Selbstverwirklichung und ihr Preis – vom Konflikt zur narzisstischen Krise

Beginning with the second half of the last century, the transition from industrial modernity to late modernity, a significant increase in personal freedom of choice, self-realization and self-determination can be observed, especially for the middle class of many societies. This is a development that has experienced unprecedented acceleration in recent decades due to digitalization and will be further accelerated by artificial intelligence. The collective has been replaced by the individual and with it a shift in values from duty, acceptance and status values to authenticity, self-realization and uniqueness. Permanent presence, commitment and innovation with the pressure to increase that characterizes modern societies are demanded with the primacy of uniqueness, be it a product, an idea or a strategy. Their market value regulates individual narcissistic gratification. The flipside of the idea that anything is possible is the fear of losing control, dwindling self-efficacy, feelings of inferiority, emptiness and powerlessness, the narcissistic crisis. In the individual it can lead to psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders but in the collective it often leads to political radicalism and extremism.