Narcissism was initially recognised as a mental disorder by the British physician Havelock Ellis in 1989. It is characterized by an inflated self-image and a fixation on fantasy, by an atypical calmness, disrupted only when the narcissist feels intimidated, and by the tendency to take others for granted or to exploit them. The disorder is named after the mythological figure Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection. According to Sigmund Freud, narcissism is a normal stage in child development, but it is considered a disorder when it occurs after puberty. It is human nature to be egocentric and overbearing to a certain extent. There is a crucial difference between healthy narcissism, being self-centred and difficult and having a pathological mental illness like a narcissistic personality disorder.
It has been used to describe :
- a sexual perversion,
- a healthy developmental stage,
- a symptom in psychosis, and
- a characteristic in several of the object relations Healthy levels of narcissism
Narcissism is an integral component of mature self-esteem and self-worth.
It has been put forward that healthy narcissism is correlated with good psychological health. Self-esteem acts as a mediator between narcissism and psychological health. Hence, because of their elevated self-esteem, high narcissists are relatively free of distress and the blues.
Destructive levels of narcissism
Increased levels of narcissistic behavior can create havoc and be self-defeating. It is characterized by a “pervasive pattern of grandiosity”, which in turn is characterized by feelings of privilege and superiority, arrogant or pompous behaviors, and a lack of empathy and concern for others. On a spectrum, destructive narcissism is more extreme than healthy narcissism but not as extreme as the pathological condition.
Pathological levels of narcissism
Extremely high levels of narcissistic behavior are regarded as pathological. As Freud suggested, it is an elevated, extreme manifestation of healthy narcissism. Freud’s notion of narcissism described a pathology which manifests itself in the inability to love others, a lack of empathy, emptiness, boredom, and a need to search for power, while making the person unavailable to others.
Expressions of narcissism –
Sexual narcissism
Sexual narcissism has been described as an egocentric pattern of sexual behavior that involves an inflated sense of sexual ability or sexual entitlement, sometimes in the form of extramarital affairs. This can be overcompensation for low self-esteem or an inability to sustain true intimacy.
Parental narcissism
Narcissistic parents could view their children as extensions of themselves and encourage the children to act in ways that support the parents’ emotional and self-esteem needs. Due to their vulnerability, children may be significantly affected by this behavior. To meet the parents’ needs, the child may sacrifice their own wants and feelings. A child subjected to this type of parenting may struggle in adulthood with their intimate relationships. In extreme situations, this parenting style can result in estranged relationships with the children, coupled with feelings of resentment and in some cases, self-destructive tendencies.
Workplace narcissism
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Professionals. There is a compulsion of some professionals to perpetually assert their proficiency, even when they are wrong. Professional narcissism can lead otherwise capable, and even exceptional professionals to fall into narcissistic traps.
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Executives are often offered potential narcissistic triggers:
* inanimate – status symbols like company cars, company-issued smartphone, or prestigious offices with window views; and
* animate – flattery and attention from colleagues and subordinates.
Characteristics
Four dimensions of narcissism as a personality variable have been set forth :
leadership/authority, superiority/arrogance, self-absorption/self-admiration, and exploitativeness/entitlement.
Narcissists report having high self-esteem. Their positive self-images seem to be based on biased and distorted perceptions of their accomplishments and their inflated views of what others think about them. Although their self-esteem is high, it is also fragile and insecure. It oscillates from moment to moment, day to day, more than that of less-narcissistic people. Other research indicates that narcissists are more likely to have high explicit (conscious, self-reported) self-esteem and low implicit (nonconscious, or automatic) self-esteem. This means that although narcissists describe themselves in positive terms, their nonconscious feelings about themselves are not so positive.
This leads them to be more alert and reactive to feedback from other people. They are also eager to learn that others admire and look up to them. Narcissists value admiration and superiority more than being liked and accepted. Moreover, narcissists pursue admiration from others by attempting to manipulate the impressions they create in others. They make self promoting statements and attempt to solicit regard and compliments from those around them. They also respond with anger and resentment when they feel threatened by others. They are more likely to respond aggressively on such occasions and derogate those who threaten them, even when such hostile responding jeopardizes the relationship. Their hostility when others fail to respond appropriately contributes to the disturbed interpersonal relationships that are a hallmark of narcissistic personality disorder.
– Urveez Kakalia and Dhara Mehta.