I read this post and decided to share what I found out through doing my paper for class:
Anormal Psychology
Dr. Booth
Laura B. Formholtz
April 14, 2007
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
For the purpose of clarifying what Narcissistic Personality Disorder is in its extreme form, I will be sharing about what is called Pathological Narcissism or Malignant Narcissism. Narcissism can be seen in varying forms and degrees, but the most intense form is one that causes severe disruption in interpersonal relationships in the dysfunctional individual's life, and often the lives of those around him.
"Genetically having certain (two or more) personality traits to somewhat of an extreme degree leads to a personality disorder in an individual. Approximately 10% of the general population has one or more of these dozen or so recognized personality disorders." (Sandhu)
More men than women are diagnosed as having this disorder, possibly due to cultural expectations of men being "aggressors" and women being "submitters."
In 1980, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, was declared a mental health disorder. Up until that time, very little information was known about it. Narcissism is believed to have begun in early childhood,although there is currently research being done to determine the role of genetics in producing this problem. Commonly, the child was either abused, neglected or turned into the "star" of the family. Much pressure to "perform" is often involved in the developing of this disorder as well. The child senses that, unless he complies with the demands and expectations of his parents, peers, authorities, he will not be considered a decent human being. He goes to great lengths to consistently be what people expect of him, never really having a chance to make his own choices or mistakes. Often, a parent tried to live vicariously through this child, thus preventing individuation and separation; natural progressions in the life cycle of every human being.
A person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), is unable to regulate his own self-worth. He watches and listens to other people's reactions to, and words about him, in order to determine his own importance and value. He uses people selfishly, in order to obtain narcissistic supply; this consists of admiration, adulation, and any type of attention he can get. He is like a drug-addict, always looking for another "fix."
Narcissists exhibit prolonged reactions and overreactions to situations, usually on a very unpredictable basis, in order to throw the partner off-balance and keep him/her confused. The Narcissist fears losing his source of attention supply, so he does what he can to keep the partner stuck so she believes she is unable to leave. Sometimes this is done through malevolent means and other times it's done through gift-giving, flattery, financial bestowments, and promises. These behaviors started out as coping mechanisms in childhood and early adolescence, but later end up as rigid styles of behaviors in the adult.
Narcissists begin their relationships by charming, fawning over, complimenting their next victim, for as long as that person serves their purposes. When the victim ceases to serve (or the narcissist suspects that they cease to serve) his needs, the narcissistic person begins a devaluing process of the partner. This can consist of mocking, shunning, blackmailing, threatening and often even outwardly abusing this perceived enemy
It is hard to distinguish a narcissist because he is adept at disguising parts of his personality, is generally very intelligent, charming, and especially deceitful. Only long-term observation will help determine narcissism in an individual. NPD is not just a part of the personality; it IS the personality, and permeates every aspect of it. Narcissists are not inherently evil. They do things for attention, adulation, adoration of people, just like a drug addict does anything for his drugs.
There are 3 mechanisms that narcissists have: fear of intimacy, fear of abandonment, and trying to recreate old conflicts from their dysfunctional pasts. They are usually diagnosed comorbidly with other personality deficits and disorders. It is not uncommon for a narcissist to also be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, subtance abuse, addictions, reckless driving, and even gambling.
Narcissists have defenses that keep people close but not close enough for the disordered person to feel threatened nor unable to control the person. They have grandiose fantasies, states of entitlement, narcissistic rages, and often suffer from deep depressions and suicidal ideations. So much of the narcissist's entire character is encompassed by the disorder, that, in order to eliminate the disorder, one would have to virtually eliminate the human being. Although the basic reactions that stem from the core root of this personality disorder can be reduced, through Cognitive and Behavior Therapies and medicine, the actual core itself is unlikely to ever change over a lifetime. A narcissist can learn to adjust his behavior to adapt to a better way of interracting, but not ever entirely become a non-narcissistic individual.
People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder are successful abusers of their victims, through both overt and covert forms of manipulation and control. Verbal attacks, facial expressions, intimidation, and passive-aggression are common in these peoples' repoitoire of weapons. Needing a constant source of attention and admiration in his life, the Narcissist becomes dpendent on his victim; terrified of losing what she can offer him. He needs to use a method to keep that supply person available to him, so he threatens, cooerces, devalues or physically abuses her. Another form of mistreatment commonly utilized by narcissists is shunning, bullying and the silent treatment. Often, in some of the more covert cases, even court systems and therapists find it difficult to discern or diagnose these patients. They can be very unpredictable and convincing at the same time.
In a narcissist, there is a lack of empathy, exploitation, grandiose fantasies of perfect love, wealth, brilliance, which translate into a sense of entitlement and inability to understand what it is to be a human being. To him, people are objects or personal property, to be used as he sees fit and deserving. These behaviors are believed to have been set up during trauma and abuse in early childhood by parents who were emotionally smothering, doting, forceful, and who expected the child to fulfill their wishes and needs. The boundaries of the child were terribly invaded as well. These dysfunctional people do not truly understand what love means and do not know how to love.
Narcissists say the things that most healthy people would never say to someone, for fear of hurting their feelings. They will cut people down to size by commenting negatively on their appearance or actions, and think nothing about the person they just wounded, standing there crying about the emotional "digs." If the victim dares to speak up and question or oppose the mistreatment, she is generally responded to with, "you are too sensitive, that's not how I meant it at all. I can't believe you'd accuse me of purposely hurting you. Well, if that's the way you are going to be, the heck with you!"
When professionally and psychologically confronted about how he treats people, the Narcissist is shocked by the revelations about his behavior and personal traits. He considers himself to be "God" or at least "godlike" and therefore, not responsible for his actions. He believes he is on a divine mission from God and must function as a well-oiled machine until the mission is accomplished. He will stay on this venture with or without his significant other, as long as he feels he is getting "ahead" in life. Like a crab in a bucket with other crabs, the narcissist will climb over every other creature, until he alone reaches the top of the bucket.
The victims of narcissists are often codependents or inverted narcissist; that is, they have to stay in a relationship with such a dysfunctional person, because they have a need to be punished and treated like a slave. Narcissists produce the Stockholm Syndrome in order to hold onto their victims for a very long time. They will keep the victim hooked to them through different means, so that they do not lose their supply source.
I personally spent 6 weeks with a narcissistically disordered female mentor. After my experience with this lady, I began to study Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I came to realize that these people feel very justified in who they are and how they act on the outside, but at the same time, they are some of the most insecure people one could ever meet. Constantly needing to be admired, adored,
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a very difficult disorder to recognize, diagnose and treat, because, Narcissism, in its healthy form, is a part of everyone. It is our reason for setting and achieving goals and for having healthy self-esteem. The disorder is an exaggeration of the very necessary and normal personality traits in a well-adjusted individual.
