Why Are Kids These Days So Narcissistic?

According to ABC News, rates of Narcissism among young people have increased by 30 percent since the early 80s. Psychologists claim the increase is from too much emphasis on building young people's confidence. Phrases like "your special" are constantly bombarded in the minds of todays youth. What psychologists haven't seemed to think of is the type of living environment kids have grown up in compared to the generations before them. Baby Boomers were usually raised with two or three siblings and parents who had little time to given their kids special attention. Before them, traditionalists (1900-1945) were raised with strict parents and physical punishment for behaving poorly. Todays kids, however, are growing up in separated households leaving them with parents competing for their attention, and child abuse laws that keep parents from "bringing out the belt." Also, the number of siblings the average teenager resides with has decreased significantly, leaving kids with more time for attention from parents and family. All these factors promote self-love. Is it really that kids are being hypnotized into believing their special by parents and the media, or are kids today just growing up in a new, narcissism prone environment?