Narcissism Case Study

Narcissists could have a detrimental effect on their children unless they identify their problem, seek treatment, and learn coping skills. According to the Mayo Health Clinic, “Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence, lays a fragile self-esteem that 's vulnerable to the slightest criticism” (Mayo Clinic, 2014). The goal of this mindset is to inflate the self so great to build an impenetrable wall around them, protecting them from their greatest fear, external criticism; preventing them from ever finding their true identity. This “false self” (George J. Train, 1987)

Origins of this disorder date back thousands of years, the earliest being in Greek mythology. Narcissus, a handsome young man, who upon seeing his reflection for the first time, fell so in love with his own image he laid there looking at himself until he died. Unlike the evil queen in Snow White, he didn’t need a magic mirror to tell him he was the fairest of all because he believed it to be true. In the early 1900’s, psychoanalysts started viewing narcissism as a healthy part of the human psyche, to a point. Austrian psychoanalyst Otto Rank was one of the earliest to publish a paper on narcissism in 1911, in which he connected it to self-admiration and vanity (Coombs, C.B., 2014). It wasn’t until about 50 years ago that it started being recognized as an illness with a treatment solution. This invisible wall, built from the dance between self-worship and self-hatred can be broken. Only if the person is willing to dig deep and learn where self-image went

Narcissistic personality disorder specifically presents itself as conceited, boastful, entitlement; looking down on others, feeling deserving of the best of everything without having to work for it, and fits of rage when their unrealistic expectations and needs are not met. Some of these could be considered qualities, given the person, place, and time. This behavior on a daily basis ultimately leads to an isolated life where the only person building the narcissist up is themselves and their child victim. A child should feel special, affirmed, and that they deserve the best. If their parent is throwing fits and expecting all the attention, the child never gets to experience life for themselves, it’s all about the parent. The only motivation the parent has is living through their child. Placing them in the role the role the parent wants, the child is required to perform for the parent, to live out the unachieved dreams of the unfulfilled parent (Meyers,