Is Iowa One of the Most Narcissistic States in the Country?
Here's a study that the state of Iowa doesn't want to find itself at the top of the list. Dealing with a narcissistic person can either be something you avoid entirely, or you have to navigate daily. If you have a narcissistic boss, co-worker, friend, or partner, it can wreak havoc on how your day is planned out.
Before we see the results from Counseling Psychology, what is a narcissist? It can be a misused or overused word in today's society, so what is the exact definition of a narcissist? According to the Dictionary, a narcissist is defined as "a person who is overly self-involved, and often vain/selfish."
Counseling Psychology collected Google research data for the past year, across all 50 states. The study divided its search terms into these four categories: learning about narcissists, narcissists in relationships, narcissists in families, and narcissists at work. The results don't fair very well for the state of Iowa.
Results
To determine its results, the study collected the average monthly searches for each state and the 30 largest U.S. cities. They determined the average search volume for each category, per person, using the location’s population. They then grouped each state and town with locations with similar population sizes. They grouped locations based on population to consider the varying search volumes due to the number of residents in that state or city.
Texas is the overwhelming number 1 state with the most suspected narcissists. Texas received a narcissistic search score of 92.5. This is the only state with a score above 90.
Counseling Psychology notes that "residents in The Lone Star State are the most likely in the U.S. to turn to the internet to learn more about narcissists and their behavior. In addition, Texas residents are the most likely to search online for tips on how to handle narcissistic behavior in the workplace."
The more narcissists in a certain location means more people are trying to use Google on how to deal with the problem. Iowa ties New Hampshire in second, with a narcissist search score of 87.5.
Other midwest states joining Iowa on the wrong side of this search are; Indiana tied at 4th most, Illinois tied at the 11th most, Minnesota at the 19th most, Kansas at the 20th most, Wisconsin at 22nd most, and Missouri tied at the 25th most.
Other Key Findings
The most popular searched question regarding narcissism is "Can narcissists change?" Moms, husbands, and boyfriends are the most common relationships perceived to be narcissistic. Residents in the south are more likely to find information regarding narcissists online.
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