We are living in an “era of self-promotion,” consistently bombarded with messages from a cultural landscape of narcissism emphasizing “me-first” thinking and “a competitive reflex.” The construct of humility, formerly limited to religious and philosophical forums, is now gaining attention in contemporary science — mainly because, in my view, it represents perhaps the most virile antidote to narcissism. Investigators have actually identified a personality trait, “hypo-egoic nonentitlement,” that differentiates humble from non-humble people.  Those persons who possess this trait do not feel as if their accomplishments and abilities warrant any special treatment or make them any more important than others. In addition, research suggests that humble individuals demonstrate more accurate and realistic appraisals of their own strengths and limitations than do non-humble persons. Moreover, humility is not related to a lack of assertiveness or poor boundaries, as stereotypical notions of the construct suggest. Rather, humility refers to an “emotional neutrality” and an egalitarian attitude in which one carries the awareness of his/her place within a complex and interrelated world. In this way, humility dis-embeds a person from the narcissistic dilemma of consistently longing for positive appraisals from others. In the next virtual meeting of the Men’s Group Seminar on Saturday, February 20, 2021 (10:15 AM to 11:30 AM), we will explore the phenomenon of humility and its relationship to narcissism.

*Registration Directions: If you would like to attend the next virtual meeting of the Men’s Group Seminar on Saturday, February 20, 2021, 10:15 to 11:30 AM, please RSVP to me at 949-338-4388 or jt@jamestobinphd.com no later than Thursday, February 18, 2021.  The fee is $25.00 (payable before entering the virtual meeting) and informed consent for participation in this telehealth event must be completed prior to the seminar. Please note that the Men’s Group Seminar is psychoeducational in nature, not therapeutic, and does not constitute psychotherapy or counseling.