What’s the main idea of this text? The word narcissism gets tossed around a lot in our selfie-obsessed, celebrity-driven culture,
often to describe someone who seems excessively vain or full of themselves
. But in
psychological
terms, narcissism doesn't mean self-love-at least not of a genuine sort. It's more
accurate to say
that people with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are in love with an idealized
, grandiose
image of themselves. And they're in love with this inflated self-image precisely
because it allows
them to avoid deep feelings of insecurity. But propping up their delusions of grandeur
takes a
lot of work-and that's where the dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors come in.
Narcissistic personality disorder involves a pattern of self-centered, arrogant thinking and
behavior, a lack of empathy and consideration for other people, and an excessive need for
admiration. Others often describe people with NPD as cocky, manipulative, selfish, patronizing,
and demanding. This way of thinking and behaving surfaces in every area of the narcissist's life:
from work and friendships to family and love relationships.
People with narcissistic personality disorder are extremely resistant to changing their behavior,
even when it's causing them problems. Their tendency is to turn the blame on to others. What's
more, they are extremely sensitive and react badly to even the slightest criticisms, disagreements,
or perceived slights, which they view as personal attacks. For the people in the narcissist's life, it's
often easier just to go along with their demands to avoid the coldness and rages. However, by
understanding more about narcissistic personality disorder, you can spot the narcissists in your
life, protect yourself from their power plays, and establish healthier boundaries.