Dear colleagues and friends,

For many years now, I have been interested in how personalities tacitly shape interactions betwixt scientists. While science is generally viewed as an objective action, I accept repeatedly been struck along my scientific career past how self-centered scientists with a big ego (i.e. high in narcissism) are often the about successful. Reading near social personalities and evolutionary psychology, I have tried to decipher how social dominance influences interactions betwixt scientists within their community. This travel through emerging fields of psychology has been summarized in a book entitled "An Essay on Scientific discipline and Narcissism : How do high-ego personalities drive research in life sciences?". This book is an endeavor to compile many implicit factors that are oft the focus of informal discussion at meetings simply rarely conceptualized. It also provides an overview of our knowledge of the egotistic personality as well as insights into how the recent increment in narcissism in Western society, which is of corking concern for its sustainability, could explain many ethical issues that have arisen in scientific discipline.  If yous enjoyed it, do non hesitate to spread the information among people interested in personality and science!

For a short synthesis, run into " Scientific discipline, narcissism and the quest for visibility", The FEBS Journal March 2017. Open up access

Click Hither for Abstract

Scientists are oft seen every bit meticulous and impartial individuals solely devoted to their report and the search for scientific truth. But a deeper analysis reveals that many of them are highly egocentric and sensitive to their public image and its associated privileges. Egocentrism, elitism, strategic media occupation and self-enhancement strategies are some of the first particularities that strike a newcomer to the academic earth.

An Essay on Science and Narcissism analyses the influence of narcissism, an important human personality dimension, on scientific discipline. The central idea is that narcissism is an advantageous trait for succeeding in an academic environment. Scientists with a high ego are better at disarming others of the importance of their research and, as excellent networkers, they are well placed to exploit the different facets of the research system. In his essay, Bruno Lemaitre as well discusses the psychological and sociobiological origins of narcissism and investigates the possible connection betwixt narcissism on 1 hand, and say-so and short-term mating strategy on the other. The contempo increase in narcissism in Western society and how this destabilises not only our society only also scientific exercise is also discussed. This essay offers an culling view of scientific discipline past analysing the narcissistic personality: prevalent amongst leading scientists, but rarely placed in the spotlight.

This volume contains five illustrations done past Tom Reed. Yous can download the table of content here.

Click Here for Comments in the Printing & Social Media

'In his fascinating exploration, Bruno Lemaitre uncovers the complex confront of narcissism in the world of science. This isn't well-nigh science as near people recall it happens, just the real – frequently personal and ego-laden – science. The science that people who aren't insiders don't see. This book will be an heart-opener for people on the outside of the scientific community, too a treat for those interested in the positive and negative manifestations of narcissism in the scientific customs.'

W. Keith Campbell, Section of Psychology, Academy of Georgia, Athens, U.s.a.

'An immersion into the world of life science research, with an exquisite and sensible clarification of ane fascinating character, the narcissistic scientist. Very instructive non only for people working in academia but as well for those who want to sympathize the research earth, and our society in general. Includes brilliant cartoons and text boxes, which convey articulate and simple messages.'

Virginie Orgogozo, Research director, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris; France

The Gardian: article & podcast (Jan 2016)

Labtimes: Interview on the book (december 2016)                                                 Part 1: Defining the trouble Part two: Bad beahviours  Part 3: Solution?

EPFL Magazine: Interview in French on the topic (epfl-magazine-03-2016-interview_v3) (Nov 2016)

The Scientist: "The Egotistic Scientist: Are leading researchers driven more by the quest for knowledge or the pursuit of fame?" and an extract of the book (October 2016)

Le Monde: «Le système de recherche favorise les personnalités narcissiques»

EMBO Encounters: Narcissism in scientific discipline: adept or bad? (Book review September 2016)

Bruno Lemaitre is professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland and he has been an EMBO Member since 2007. He recently published a book entiteld An Essay on Science and Narcissism: How practise loftier-ego personalities bulldoze research in life sciences?, in which he explores the link between narcissism and scientific discipline, with a focus on life sciences. Lemaitre's conclusion is that information technology is impossible to see narcissism as either skillful or bad. The trait is often useful for scientists and a certain dose of narcissism, maybe essential to condign a scientist – and succeeding in an academic environment. Nevertheless people with an overly strong narcissistic character negatively influence the community – in many dissimilar ways. "Unfortunately, the present system and science organization profoundly favours narcissists, to the point that fifty-fifty brilliant people and difficult workers may find the research environment too hostile," Lemaitre writes. The author also discusses the origins of narcissism and its recent increase in Western society – with all the negative, destabilizing effects: "Narcissistic behavior becomes a serious threat as more and more individuals become increasingly self-centered." James Briscoe, besides an EMBO Fellow member, recently commented on the book on Twitter: "Just read Lemaitre's volume on narcissism in scientific discipline. Provocative, but depressingly familiar."

Times Higher Instruction: "Is research a fertile hunting basis for narcissists?" by Matthew Reisz (Baronial iv 2016)

Blog: "Labmosphere, a happy lab is a productive lab"(September 2016)

Blog "For better scientific discipline" by of Leonid Schneider: "Bruno Lemaitre on Scientific discipline and Narcissism"

How to discover this book ?

The newspaper version of the book is impress out. The pdf of the book is available for costless at the Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes. Click hither.

The book is also bachelor on google volume and enquiry gate.