1.81 Narcissistic Personality Disorder
People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder have a lifelong pattern of grandiosity (in behavior and in fantasy), thirst for admiration, and lack of empathy. These attitudes permeate most aspects of their lives. They feet that they are unusually special; they are self-important individuals who commonly exaggerate their accomplishments to make themselves seem bigger than life. (It should be noted from the outset, however, that these traits constitute a personality disorder only in adults. Children and teenagers are naturally self-centered; in this age range, narcissistic traits don't necessarily imply ultimate personality disorder.)
Despite their grandiose attitudes, narcissistic individuals have fragile self-
esteem and often feel unworthy; even at times of great personal success, they
may feet fraudulent or undeserving. They remain overly sensitive to what others
think about them, and feet compelled to extract compliments. When criticized,
they may cover their distress with a facade of icy indifference. As sensitive as
they are about their own feelings, they have little apparent understanding of
the feelings and needs of others and may feign empathy, just as they may lie to
cover their own faults.
Narcissistic people often fantasize about wild success and envy those who have
achieved it. They may choose friends they think can help them get what they
want. Their job performance can suffer (due to interpersonal problems) or can be
enhanced (due to their eternal drive for success). Because they tend to be
concerned with grooming and value their youthful looks, they may become
increasingly depressed as they age.
This
disorder has been very poorly studied. It is probably uncommon; reportedly, most
patients are men. There is no information about family history, environmental
antecedents, or other background material that might help us to understand these
difficult personalities.
Criteria
for Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Beginning by early adult life, grandiosity (fantasized or actual), lack
of empathy, and need for admiration are present in a variety of situations and
shown by at least five of these:
A grandiose sense of self-importance (patient exaggerates own abilities
and accomplishments)
Preoccupation with fantasies of beauty, brilliance, ideal love, power,
or limitless success
Belief that personal uniqueness renders the patient fit only for
association with (or understanding by) people or institutions of rarefied
status
Need for excessive admiration
A sense of entitlement (patient unreasonably expects favorable treatment
or automatic granting of own wishes)
Exploitation of others to achieve personal goals
Lack of empathy (patient does not recognize or identify with the
feelings and needs of others)
Frequent envy of others or belief that others envy patient
Arrogance or haughtiness in attitude or behavior
Source