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Narcissism or Self Love
Narcissism describes the trait of excessive self-love, based on self-image or ego. The term narcissism means love of oneself, and refers to the set of character traits concerned with self-admiration, self-centeredness and self-regard. The name was chosen by Sigmund Freud, from the Greek myth of Narcissus, who was doomed to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.While almost everyone is narcissistic to some degree, certain forms of narcissism can be highly dysfunctional, and are classified as pathologies such as the Narcissistic Personality Disorder . Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a pattern of self-centered or egotistical behavior that shows up in thinking and behavior in a lot of different situations and activities. People with NPD won't (or can't) change their behavior even when it causes problems at work or when other people complain about the way they act, or when their behavior causes a lot of emotional distress to others (or themselves? none of my narcissists ever admit to being distressed by their own behavior -- they always blame other people for any problems). This pattern of self-centered or egotistical behavior is not caused by current drug or alcohol use, head injury, acute psychotic episodes, or any other illness, but has been going on steadily at least since adolescence or early adulthood.. NPD interferes with people's functioning in their occupations and in their relationships:
_Mild impairment when self-centered or egotistical behavior results in occasional minor problems, but the person is generally doing pretty well.
_Moderate impairment when self-centered or egotistical behavior results in: (a) missing days from work, household duties, or school, (b) significant performance problems as a wage-earner, homemaker, or student, (c) frequently avoiding or alienating friends, (d) significant risk of harming self or others (frequent suicidal preoccupation; often neglecting family, or frequently abusing others or committing criminal acts).
_Severe impairment when self-centered or egotistical behavior results in: (a) staying in bed all day, (b) totally alienating all friends and family, (c) severe risk of harming self or others (failing to maintain personal hygiene; persistent danger of suicide, abuse, or crime).
The diagnosis is based on the clinical history. Psychological testing may be helpful. There are no laboratory studies that are diagnostic of narcissistic personality disorder.Behavioral outcomes are very variable. Some people with narcissistic personality disorder are very successful occupationally, although most are marginal or do poorly. Most people with narcissistic personality disorder have troubled interpersonal and marital relationships.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
People with narcissistic personality disorder display a pervasive pattern of grandiose behavior and have a need of admiration and a lack of empathy. The disorder begins by early adulthood and occurs in a variety of contexts.
Diagnostic Criteria
The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria define narcissistic personality disorder as a pervasive pattern of grandiosity in either fantasy or behavior, a need for admiration and a lack of empathy. The disorder must have begun by early adulthood and it must present in a variety of contexts.
The patient must display at least five of the following features:
_ a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g. exaggeration achievements and talents, expectation of being recognized as superior without commensurate achievements);
_ preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love.
_ a belief that the patient is `special' and unique and can only be understood by (or should associate with) other special or high-status people;
_ a need for excessive admiration;
_ a sense of entitlement - unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or of automatic compliance with the patient's expectations;
_ behavior that involves interpersonal exploitation - taking advantage of others to achieve the patient' own ends;
_a lack of empathy;
_ frequent envy of others or a belief that others are envious of the patient;
_ arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
Symptoms and Signs
Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by beliefs and behaviors that indicate a sense of `specialness', often accompanied by a lack of empathy for others, who may be used as objects rather than as fellow human beings with feelings and needs. Patients are often envious of anyone who is more successful. Attitudes of entitlement lead to exploitation of others, resulting in little guilt or remorse.
Unlike sociopaths patients, narcissistic patients are fueled by thoughts of grandiosity and a need for admiration; such patients may be able to pursue goals single-mindlessly and successfully.
Patients may feel uniquely special and exaggerate their own achievements and abilities, and they may attempt to identify themselves solely with important people or prestigious institutions.
Patients are often exquisitely vulnerable to criticism and may react with rage or marked feelings of humiliation and depression. Conversely, successes may be followed by an inflated sense of grandiosity and contempt or even sadistic behaviors toward others.
Conventional diagnostic criteria (e.g. the criteria in DSM-III-R) for narcissistic personality disorder have suggested a rather homogeneous set of features such as inflated grandiosity, excessive omnipotence, overt arrogance, diminished empathic capacities, humanistic behavior, pathological self-centeredness, and propensities toward self-indulgence. Many narcissistic conditions are misdiagnosed because the symptoms are less obvious or even camouflaged completely. Diagnostic miscalculations can often mislead clinicians away from focusing on the real and essential aspects of the disorder and lead to unnecessary therapeutic detours and eventual failures. Improved recognition of the heterogeneity of such patients might improve diagnostic consistency and eventual therapeutic outcome.
The diagnosis is based on the clinical history. Psychological testing may be helpful. There are no laboratory studies that are diagnostic of narcissistic personality disorder. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be more prone to major depression.
Behavioral outcomes are very variable. Some people with narcissistic personality disorder are very successful occupationally, although most are marginal or do poorly. Most people with narcissistic personality disorder have troubled interpersonal and marital relationships.
The differential diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder includes:
_ other personality disorders (e.g. antisocial, borderline, histrionic, paranoid, schizophrenic personality disorders);
_ obsessive- compulsive personality disorder;
_ mania or hypo mania;
_ effects of long-term misuse of a substance (e.g. cocaine);
_ personality change caused by a general medical condition.
Milder forms of the disorder may well improve with time, maturity and fortuitous events such as favorable jobs or marriages; Whereas severe forms of narcissism are associated with occupation and interpersonal failure, which may intensify the symptoms and, in the extreme, lead to occupational disability or suicide.
Treatment
_ to help the patient to achieve a more realistic view of his or her abilities;
_ to increase the patient's empathy for others.
Individual Psychotherapy
Individual psychotherapy with a psycho dynamic orientation is the primary treatment for narcissism. In an accepting environment, the patient is allowed to develop an idealizing transference toward the therapist. Subsequent interpretations focus on the patient's frustrations caused by the therapist's inevitable empathetic failures and the patient's wishes for a more gratifying relationship.
It is very difficult to treat paranoid traits of narcissistic patients. Some patients are markedly supportive and non-confrontational, yet also interpretive. In this context, it must be remembered how difficult it is to treat paranoid patients psycho therapeutically, much less to keep them in treatment. The approach of `self psychology' to the theory and therapy of the paranoid disorder is important in practice. Therefore, the following are important adjuncts to the psychotherapy of a paranoid patient:
_ attention to the narcissistic developmental line;
_ interpersonal self-object relationships;
_ intrapsychic conflicts and deficits;
_ empathic immersion in the patient's world.
Other Therapies
Group therapy may serve as a valuable adjunct to individual therapy but is rarely a primary treatment approach. In group therapy, patients are encouraged to explore the effect of their behavior on others and to practice empathy in response to the experiences of other group members. However, without individual therapy, patients are likely to perceive intense competition with other group members for the therapist's attention and to feel that their own needs for empathy are not being met.
God bless and keep smiling!
Posted byIrum Khan
you have touched the topic nicely described very well. keep posting
well i hav been trying to find information about narcissism for the last few months but wasn't getting satisfying results.
But Irum u hav described it completely..
Regards
Lilly Sam