Narcissistic Personality Disorder

The essential feature of narcissistic personality disorder is a persuasive pattern of grandiosity-that is an inflated since of how important one is-along with a need for admiration and lack of empathy for other people. The disorder typically begins by early adulthood, although some causes may be rooted in childhood experiences. Sigmund Freud started the psychological discussion of the disorder with his 1914 paper “on narcissism”.

The disorder takes its name from narcissus, who in greek mythology was the son of a river god and a nymph. As a young man he was known for his beauty. However, when narcissus rejected the love of the nymph echo, the gods grew angry with him. They caused him to fall in love with his own reflection in the waters of a pool. Gazing at his beautiful and inaccessible image, narcissus drowned when he fell into the water. The flower that bears his name sprung up when narcissus died.

Narcissistic people tend to exagerate and accomplishments, often appearing boastful or pretentious. They tend to talk endlessly about themselves and become annoyed if the topic of conversation turns to anyone else. Fantasies of unlimited power, beauty, wealth, or achievement may consume them.Narcissistic disturbance can be found in everyone. An individual’s existence would be in jeopardy if some narcissistic traits were not present. The development of problems occur when narcissistic traits become exaggerated in an individual’s personality.

During the first eighteen months of life an infant is provided with narcissistic defenses. The infant is able to experience being the center of their mother's world and a oneness with the mother develops. Being the center of the mother's world makes the child feel powerful and omnipotent and they know no limits to their world. However, a psychological transformation near the end of the eighteen-month period causes the disintegration of the child’s oneness with the mother to take place. When this separation period begins the experiences of the child determines the development of the ego and the onset of NPD. These experiences encompass the mother’s ability to be responsive and sensitive to the needs of the child during the first eighteen months. Also, important in the develop of the ego is the limits and consequences the parents provide between two and ten and the amount of abuse or trauma the child receives during the firs...

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...enter of attention and are mystified when they do no get what they want. They expect to get whatever they want no matter what it means to others.

They also feel that they can only be understood by people of high status and they often assign special, gifted, or unique qualities that are not factual to the people with whom they associate. They will insist that they have the best doctor, lawyer, etc., available, and will assign accomplishments to that individual to prove their validity. If an individual disappoints them, however, then they frequently will negate the credentials of those that disappoint them.

A narcissistic individual has a fragile sense of self. To strengthen their sense of self they depend on other's admiration and constant attention. They expect other's to covet their possessions and they are constantly seeking compliments.

A narcissistic injury occurs when someone defeats or critisizes the narcissistic individual. The narcissist may not show it outwardly, but they are haunted by criticisms and defeats. They begin to feel empty, degraded, and humiliated and are capable of retaliating with narcissistic rage. Their reactions constitute disdain or defiant attacks.