Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a psychological disorder characterized by excessive self-admiration, unreasonably high self-esteem, lack of empathy, and a persistent need for attention and admiration.
In Greek mythology, Narcissus is a man who died from unrequited love for his own reflection.
Types
Constructive narcissism is a special form of self-love and a positive attitude towards various spheres of life with appropriately high self-esteem. Its behavioral manifestations include self-confidence, self-control, the ability to quickly find solutions in difficult situations, and handling pressure from others.
Vulnerable narcissism is an underdeveloped form of constructive narcissism, characterized by a person's inability to feel self-sufficient and form an adequate and integrated perception of their own personality. Such people usually depend heavily on the opinions of those around them and tend to be compliant and passive.
Destructive narcissism is a disorder that affects a person's ability to adequately and realistically evaluate themselves. Such people have a pathological need for constant attention and confirmation of their own importance. At the same time, they struggle to build trusting, close relationships. This disorder can manifest itself in autism, delusions, paranoid reactions, and psychosomatic abnormalities. In severe cases, experts diagnose malignant narcissism.
Predisposing factors
The causes of narcissism are often difficult to determine; however, experts identify several groups of factors predisposing individuals to this disorder.
Most scientists agree that the formation of destructive narcissism, as well as other forms of the disorder, lies in the peculiarities of early childhood upbringing.
Psychologists view narcissism as an egocentric behavior, often stemming from an inferiority complex. Low self-esteem in early life can result from inadequate upbringing, such as permissiveness or, conversely, excessive rigor. Additionally, narcissistic disorder can develop in children who lack their parents' approval and support, or who are overly praised and idolized by their family.
Psychologists also consider other factors that contribute to the development of narcissism, including heredity, temperament traits, and stress resistance levels. Narcissism often appears in adolescence, although it is not always harmful during puberty and may dissipate as one matures.
Destructive narcissism can be a symptom of mental illness. For example, manifestations of the disorder have been noted among people with schizophrenia, who may completely lose touch with reality and consider themselves god-like beings.
Features
Signs of narcissism are very diverse.
A mental disorder may be present when at least five of the following symptoms occur:
* a tendency to fantasize about great success, fame, wealth, and attention from the opposite sex, with these fantasies often unrelated to real life;
* a need for constant attention and approval from others; exaggeration of one's accomplishments, knowledge, skills, and overall importance;
* a firm belief in one's uniqueness, exceptional talents, or genius, which often goes unrecognized;
* envy;
* a propensity to use other people for personal gain;
* demonstrative behavior to assert one's superiority;
* a tendency to overstate one's rights and neglect duties;
* an unwillingness to understand the feelings of others, even those closest to them, and a lack of empathy;
* a tendency to conceal one's flaws and focus on the flaws of others; any criticism provokes an angry reaction or is simply ignored.
Manifestations in men and women
Male narcissism primarily manifests in attempts to achieve significance in their own and others' opinions. Striving to satisfy their ambitions, narcissistic men can achieve remarkable career successes, but these achievements are often followed by emotional exhaustion. Until the age of 35-40, their constantly increasing aspirations do not raise concerns, as new goals and tasks continuously emerge.
However, as they age, men with such characteristics begin to feel increasingly unhappy. Moreover, destructive narcissism can cause difficulties in building relationships with others, including family members. It may also result in aggression towards others, leading to a domineering home life.
Female narcissism is also frequently characterized by ambitiousness. Often, these women face difficulties in communicating with their children due to excessive demands and disappointment when the child does not meet their expectations.
Interestingly, female narcissists often choose calm, caring men as life partners but show little respect for them. An even more complicated situation arises when both spouses exhibit narcissistic traits. In this case, there is a constant competition between them, involving sharp criticism and hostility towards each other. Such relationships rarely last long.
Diagnostics
Observation plays the most significant role in diagnosing. During this process, the expert analyzes the patient's responses and behavior, draws conclusions, and identifies characteristics of the mental disorder. As a rule, overt narcissism is relatively easy to identify since patients exhibit disharmony in almost all aspects of their lives, and denial of this is another typical symptom. Additionally, when diagnosing, an inadequate, sharp reaction to criticism is taken into account. The identification of pathology signs takes place through specially designed psychological tests and questionnaires.
Take the narcissism test: How narcissistic you are?
When examining patients with destructive narcissism, it is necessary to differentiate the disorder from antisocial, borderline, and hysterical disorders. Since patients themselves are often unaware of their unhealthy condition, it is usually their close relatives who seek help from a professional, providing valuable diagnostic information.
Methods of controlling
When choosing a therapy strategy, each clinical case is considered individually. Since this mental disorder is chronic, therapy may be complex. Competent psychological assistance is crucial when working with such patients. As patients rarely voluntarily agree to undergo treatment, it is essential for the specialist to find the right approach. Often, doctors use an approach that initially demonstrates a supportive and respectful attitude towards the patient.
Individual and group psychotherapy have shown good results in treating NPD. Therapists engage in explanatory conversations with patients, helping them recognize the unhealthy nature of their condition, accept it, and find constructive solutions to regulate their self-esteem. The therapist must know how to accurately reveal the essence of the disorder; otherwise, the patient may simply reject treatment.
Drug therapy may be used in the presence of depressive disorders, panic attacks, phobias, and other mental disorders. It should be noted that medications do not treat the narcissism syndrome itself but only alleviate its clinical manifestations.
Preventive measures
Since narcissism forms under the influence of certain factors, it can be avoided by contributing to the development of a healthy personality type starting as early as childhood:
* Encourage a child's sense of self-esteem and independence from the opinions of others;
* Do not prohibit children from crying to express feelings of resentment or grief;
* When necessary, parents should know how to say a firm "no" to the child, not indulging whims;
* Offer praise when the child genuinely deserves it, but avoid boasting about their achievements in their presence;
* Prevent the child from witnessing family quarrels;
* Ensure the child understands that they live in a society and are not thecenter of it.
If you suspect that you or your loved ones have NPD, we recommend consulting a specialist as soon as possible.