The problem with personality theory

swiveling,I don't necessarily disagree. There was one historian, Oswald Spengler, who claimed likewise, and provided examples from history. I haven't read his works yet because I'd like to acquaint myself better with history first, but the general idea is that any culture goes through certain organic phases of birth, ascent, descent and, eventually, death. Towards the end, the masses become as you describe them because of the political plans of the top dogs in a society, who know they are better off if the masses are kept in such a state. Given the nature of education and the ridiculous amount of crass entertainment, never mind false accounts (and keeping it on the hush) about various things going on in the world today; it's understandable why people become apathetic - as long as we have our fun gadgets and a job through which we can afford things we don't need, why bother?

"I'm unsure how you equated:

extreme sense of entitlement + self worth + strong herd mentality + lack of ambition = people with grand imaginations."

I wasn't claiming that all those things add up to "people with grand imaginations", but that the website forgot to mention the herd mentality and lack of ambition. The herd mentality determines what is "valuable" and desirable as a person, indeed, and the lack of ambition - or even fright - to reach higher than what we have determined to be "proper", "normal" and "attainable" for us - the herd mentality determines limits for what can and cannot be done, and many fool themselves into believing the nonsense, hence the lack of ambition. However, we've all been raised to believe, or know, how special we are, and it's impossible to reconcile our sense of self-entitlement and our lack of ambition, so we need to create the illusion that our incapability is the result of some external circumstances - fate - and that we would be perfect had it not been for X. This is where the concept of rights comes in. I do believe that there ought to be rights in regards to the treatment of not just humans, but the whole of the environment, but I see the concept of rights being abused to justify anything - we don't like our delusions shattered. Ultimately overemphasising rights is a sign of a vain mediocrity. (The reasoning to what I say is pretty clear in my head, but I have a feeling it's not as clear in written form; if you wish to clarify anything, you know where to find me. )

"As for the special thing. I was claiming that despite the beliefs of the "yuppies", as the article puts it, they're not special "

Then I agree.