Malignant Self Love | Page 6

it is contagious. It is my contention that narcissism is the mental epidemic of the twentieth century, a plague to be fought by all means.
This book is my contribution to minimising the damages of this disorder.
Sam Vaknin
Malignant
Self Love
Narcissism Revisited
The Narcissistic Personality Disorder
A Primer on Narcissism
Narcissism (n. sing.)
A pattern of traits and behaviours which signify infatuation and obsession with one's self to the exclusion of all others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit of one's gratification, dominance and ambition.
Narcissism is named after the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus, a handsome Greek youth who rejected the desperate advances of the nymph Echo. In punishment of his cruelty, he was doomed to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Unable to consummate his autoerotic love, he pined away and changed into the flower that bears his name to this very day.
What is NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder)?
The Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) has been recognised as a separate mental health disorder in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM) in 1980. Its diagnostic criteria and their interpretation have undergone a major revision in the DSM-III-R [1987] and were substantially revamped in the DSM-IV-TR in 2000. The European ICD-10 basically contains identical language.
An all-pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behaviour), need for admiration or adulation and lack of empathy, usually beginning by early adulthood and present in various contexts. Five (or more) of the following criteria must be met:
_ Feels grandiose and self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents to the point of lying, demands to be recognised as superior without commensurate achievements);
_ Is obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or omnipotence, unequalled brilliance (the cerebral narcissist), bodily beauty or sexual performance (the somatic narcissist), or ideal, everlasting, all-conquering love or passion;
_ Firmly convinced that he or she is unique and, being special, can only be understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with, other special or unique, or high-status people (or institutions);
_ Requires excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation - or, failing that, wishes to be feared and to be notorious (Narcissistic Supply);
_ Feels entitled. Expects unreasonable or special and favourable priority treatment. Demands automatic and full compliance with his or her expectations;
_ Is "interpersonally exploitative", i.e., uses others to achieve his or her own ends;
_ Devoid of empathy. Is unable or unwilling to identify with or acknowledge the feelings and needs of others;
_ Constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about him or her;
_ Arrogant, haughty behaviours or attitudes coupled with rage when frustrated, contradicted, or confronted.
The language in the criteria above is based on or summarised from:
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR, Washington [2000]
Vaknin, Sam. Malignant Self-Love - Narcissism Revisited. Revised ed. Prague and Skopje, Narcissus Publications [1999, 2001, 2003]
More Data About Pathological Narcissists
_ Most narcissists (75%) are men.
_ NPD (=the Narcissistic Personality Disorder) is one of a "family" of personality disorders (formerly known as "Cluster B"). Other members: Borderline PD, Antisocial PD and Histrionic PD.
_ NPD is often diagnosed with other mental health disorders ("co-morbidity") - or with substance abuse, or impulsive and reckless behaviours ("dual diagnosis").
_ NPD is new [1980] mental health category in the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM).
_ There is only scant research regarding narcissism. But what there is has not demonstrated any ethnic, social, cultural, economic, genetic, or professional predilection to NPD.
_ It is estimated that 0.7-1% of the general population suffer from NPD.
_ Pathological narcissism was first described in detail by Freud. Other major contributors are: Klein, Horney, Kohut, Kernberg, Millon, Roningstam, Gunderson, Hare.
_ The onset of narcissism is in infancy, childhood and early adolescence. It is commonly attributed to childhood abuse and trauma inflicted by parents, authority figures, or even peers.
_ There is a whole range of narcissistic reactions - from the mild, reactive and transient to the permanent personality disorder.
_ Narcissists are either "cerebral" (derive their Narcissistic Supply from their intelligence or academic achievements) - or "somatic" (derive their Narcissistic Supply from their physique, exercise, physical or sexual prowess and "conquests").
_ Narcissists are either "classic" - see definition below - or they are "compensatory", or "inverted" - see definitions in FAQ 49: The Inverted Narcissist.
_ NPD is treated by talk therapy (psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioural). The prognosis for an adult narcissist is poor, though his adaptation to life and to others can improve with treatment. Medication is applied to side effects and behaviours (such as mood or affect disorders and obsession-compulsion) - usually with some success.
Bibliography
1. Alford, C. Fred. Narcissism: Socrates, the Frankfurt School and Psychoanalytic Theory. New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1988
2. Devereux, George. Basic Problems of Ethno-Psychiatry. University of Chicago Press, 1980
3. Fairbairn, W. R. D. An Object Relations Theory of the Personality. New York, Basic Books, 1954
4. Freud S.