Narcissism: Psychological Theories And Therapeutic Interventions In The Narcissistic Disorders

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of self worth does not allow him or
her to risk any criticism. Therefore, meaningful emotional interactions with
others are avoided. By simultaneously seeking the admiration of others and
keeping them at a distance the narcissist is usually able to maintain the
illusion of grandiosity no matter how people respond. Thus, when people praise
the narcissist his or her grandiosity will increase, but when criticized the
grandiosity will usually remain unaffected because the narcissist will devalue
the criticizing person.

Akhtar (1989) [as cited in Carson & Butcher, 1992; P. 271] discusses six
areas of pathological functioning which characterize the narcissist. In
particular, four of these narcissistic character traits best illustrate the
pattern discussed above. " (1) a narcissistic individual has a basic sense of
inferiority, which underlies a preoccupation with fantasies of outstanding
achievement; (2) a narcissistic individual is unable to trust and rely on
others and thus ...

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of Narcissism

The use of the term narcissism in relation to psychological phenomena was
first made by Ellis in 1898. Ellis described a special state of auto-erotism
as Narcissus like, in which the sexual feelings become absorbed in self
admiration (Goldberg, 1980). The term was later incorporated into Freud"s
psychoanalytic theory in 1914 in his essay "On Narcissism". Freud
conceptualized narcissism as a as a sexual perversion involving a pathological
sexual love to one"s own body (Sandler & Person, 1991). Henceforth, several
psychological theories have attempted to explain and treat the narcissistic
phenomenon. Specifically, the most comprehensive psychological theories ...

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