Narcissism in men: what is it and what to do about it


A little history

The term "narcissism" comes from the name of the ancient Greek mythological hero Narcissus. The young man was incredibly handsome: the narcissistic hero rejected the love of the nymph Echo, for which he was punished. The ancient Greek gods sentenced Narcissus to lifelong admiration of his face through the reflection on the surface of the water.

According to Sigmund Freud, narcissism is a manifestation of specific intimate behavior. Many children in the early stages of life show narcissistic feelings and admire themselves. Moreover, if the child’s personality develops harmoniously and correctly, and the parents participate in the full upbringing of the child, such narcissism does not cause any harm and disappears on its own as they grow older. In the process of creating the method of psychoanalysis, Freud finally introduced the concept of narcissism into psychiatric practice.

How to behave around a narcissist

A man, a narcissist, can appear in a girl’s life at any moment. She may run into him in the park, in a cafe, or even at work. Such a young man looks so attractive that a rare young lady will be able to pass by and refuse to communicate.

  1. If a woman decides to have a relationship with such a young man, she should think about her own safety. We must remember that in such a situation a girl is capable of forgetting and submitting to a man. The narcissist more often chooses a partner who has a pronounced sense of guilt; such a young lady is easier to manipulate. Due to female insecurity, he increases his self-esteem.
  2. If you are going to communicate with a narcissist, you need to set conditional boundaries in your mind and not allow the man to control you.
  3. If you get the feeling that a young man is trying to break you, you need to break up with him immediately. You need to be prepared for the fact that such a partner will not change his lifestyle and few will be able to correct it.
  4. Enjoy communicating with a narcissist, but do not plan a future, serious relationship with him. You shouldn't think about starting a family.

Narcissistic personality disorder and its causes

This mental disorder can have various causes. When examining the patients' brains, scientists discovered thickening of the cortex and altered structure of some nerve cells. Deviations affect the part of the brain that is responsible for feelings of compassion.

According to experts, the feeling of empathy depends on the concentration of gray matter: in narcissists, its amount is significantly less than in healthy people.

Narcissism is a mental illness that occurs for the following reasons:

  1. Low self-esteem in childhood. At the same time, such behavioral features can be laid down by a person’s parents or environment; constant reproaches and reproaches provoke the emergence of defense mechanisms.
  2. Lack of parental restrictions in childhood, excessive praise and idealization of the child’s personality by parents.
  3. Permissiveness, in which the child does not understand what he can do and what he is prohibited from doing.

Please note that individual traits of narcissism often appear during puberty, but this does not mean that such a phenomenon will develop into a mental disorder.

Some theorists believe that narcissism is a pathology that is also hereditary. The presence of one or another idol in a teenager also plays an important role. In some cases, this phenomenon is associated with a more serious mental illness (for example, schizophrenia), in which case the patient completely loses touch with reality and considers himself a messenger of a deity or another idol.

Causes

Narcissistic personality disorder occurs as a result of incorrect parenting techniques. This psychological dysfunction can be caused equally by an indifferent, excessively cold attitude towards one’s own child and overprotection. Children who are an only child, raised by stepparents, mature parents, or in single-parent families are more likely to show signs of narcissistic personality disorder.

Below is the mechanism for the emergence of narcissistic personality disorder as a consequence of a lack of love. A child, not receiving proper parental care, constantly experiencing dissatisfaction and fear of the environment, feeling his own inadequacy due to his parents’ dislike, unconsciously triggers a defense mechanism. Such children try to convince themselves that they are perfect and unique, while at the same time trying to gain the admiration of those around them. The narcissist develops a grandiose image of his own ego in order to convince himself that he is self-sufficient and does not need to establish warm relationships with other people.

Excessive attention to the baby is also often a catalyst for the emergence of narcissistic personality disorder. Absolute parental admiration for their own child, the lack of an impartial assessment of actions, constant praise, permissiveness, and indulgence in whims give rise to the development of exaggerated self-esteem and a contemptuous attitude towards the environment in the child.

In addition, the described deviation often occurs as a consequence of certain anatomical features. Instrumental study shows a disturbance in the structure of the brain area responsible for compassion: the volume of gray matter is reduced, the cortex is thickened, and nerve cells are transformed.

In some cases, narcissistic personality disorder is a symptom of mental illnesses, for example, schizophrenia.

Signs of Narcissism

Below are the symptoms of this disease, based on which the psychiatrist makes a diagnosis.

  1. Exaggerated sense of self-importance.
  2. Constantly arising fantasies of stunning success and fame, incredible wealth.
  3. Confidence in one's own uniqueness, the desire to communicate only with people of high social status.
  4. Demanding admiration and reverence from other people.
  5. Arrogance and ambition (some narcissists make mean and cynical jokes about other people).
  6. Lack of empathy and compassion.
  7. Negative attitude towards criticism.
  8. High self-esteem is only a mask for other people; deep down, such patients are weak individuals with many psychological complexes.
  9. Careful disguise of one's own shortcomings.
  10. Using other people for one's own benefit.

All people who suffer from this disease try to protect themselves from envious feelings towards others, so they are often not interested in the personal lives and professional activities of their friends and acquaintances. A sick person often expresses uncertainty in his opinion: at first he perceives this or that person as an idol or idol, and then expresses contempt for it and considers this or that person unreasonable.

Narcissists are people addicted to praise; very often they do not react in any way, do not respond with gratitude when hearing compliments. In most cases, patients do not show interest in generally accepted values ​​(moral or aesthetic).

Narcissism as a psychological disease: symptoms, treatment

Narcissism

The term "narcissism" comes from the Greek myth of Narcissus (Greek: Νάρκισσος, Narcissus), a handsome Greek youth who, according to Ovid, rejected the desperate signs of love from the nymph Echo, as Narcissus would fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Incapable of true love, Narcissus "gazed admiringly into the pool hour after hour" and finally turned into the flower that bears his name, the daffodil. One of the most successful literary examples of narcissists is Jay Gatsby, a character in Scott F. Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby.

Narcissism is the desire to obtain deep satisfaction from egoistic admiration of one's idealized image and one's qualities, property and other attributes. Four personality dimensions shape expansive narcissism:

  1. Dominance - authority
  2. Egocentrism - arrogance
  3. Self-admiration - exploitation
  4. Self-indulgence from compliance with norms

All these dimensions are a pathological way to avoid threats to one’s fragile and unstable self-identity, which is composed of self-image, self-esteem and one’s ideal image.

Signs of a narcissistic (narcissistic) personality

The signs and symptoms of a narcissistic personality are wide and varied. Such people usually:

  • Very manipulative
  • Often preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, brilliance, beauty, or the ideal partner.
  • Can't stand criticism
  • Can be aggressive if they feel neglected
  • Don't mind using others to get what they want
  • They care about their appearance and can seem quite charming.
  • They exaggerate their own achievements and talents, even to the point of lying.
  • Unable to see or appreciate the needs and feelings of others
  • They have fragile self-esteem and a weak ability to regulate their feelings and actions.
  • Have no remorse for hurting others and rarely apologize unless doing so would benefit them in some way
  • They insist on having the best and believe that they deserve it.
  • Monopolize conversations, belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior
  • Secretly feel very insecure and weak
  • Tend to project their bad behavior onto others, blaming others for their bad behavior.

Narcissism is generally considered a serious problem in a person's relationships with other people. It is one of three Dark Triad personality traits, along with antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) and Machiavellianism. Narcissism may be a characteristic feature of inadequate political figures. Narcissistic parents demand certain behaviors from their children because they see their children as extensions of themselves and need their children to present them to the world in a way that satisfies the parents' emotional needs. This “style” of parenting most often leads to alienated relationships with children, combined with feelings of resentment and a tendency towards self-destruction.

What is covert narcissism?

Narcissists are a special type of person - an abuser (emotional or psychological abuser), and dealing with them is never easy. Overt malignant (or grandiose) narcissists are easy to identify because they tend to be flamboyant, arrogant, insensitive to the needs of others, and always craving compliments. Both covert and overt narcissists live with a sense of self-importance and fantasize about success and greatness. Covert (or vulnerable) narcissists differ from overt narcissists only in that they tend to be more introverted, and their personality is based on vulnerability, hypersensitivity and defensiveness.

  • The covert narcissist certainly craves importance and admiration, but he may be different from those around him. They may give compliments inappropriately or deliberately downplay their achievements or talents so that people will convince them of how talented they are. An overt narcissist will demand admiration and attention, while a covert narcissist will use softer tactics to achieve the same goals. The covert narcissist is much more likely to constantly seek validation of his talents, skills and achievements, seeking feedback from others to satisfy the same need to maintain fragile self-esteem.
  • Shaming others is a favorite tactic of the narcissist to ensure a sense of superiority and secure their self-esteem. An overt (extroverted) narcissist may be more harsh in their approach to gaining control over the victim, such as openly putting down, being rude, critical and sarcastic.
  • An introverted covert narcissist may have a softer approach to instilling guilt in their victims. They may even pretend to be a victim of others' actions or be emotionally abused in order to get the support and praise they require.
  • Some covert narcissists may derive pleasure from confusing others. Rather than blaming or shaming, they may cause people to question their perceptions and doubt themselves.
  • While the extroverted narcissist will overtly neglect his partner or overtly manipulate to achieve his goal, the covert narcissist will do the same, but subtly. He will show outward sympathy and attention, but will be late, never communicate exactly about his plans or feelings, will not answer calls and messages immediately, not paying attention to the feelings and interests of his partner, all the time attributing his hidden emotional abuse to external factors (employment, circumstance, sick grandmother, etc.). The hidden purpose of this behavior is to make the partner feel small, insignificant and irrelevant.
  • Narcissists do not know how to build and maintain emotional connections with others. The covert narcissist is no different. While they may appear kinder than their extroverted counterparts, they also lack the ability to be emotionally responsive. The narcissist will not do anything that improves his partner’s self-esteem: no compliments, no assessment of talents and abilities, achievements. The narcissist's partner will be forced to take on all the emotionally warm parts in the relationship. A lack of empathy will prevent the covert narcissist from responding to their partner in an emotionally healthy way.
  • If a narcissist does something for others or gives something, then there is a hidden goal behind this to receive in return much more than was given.

What is narcissistic personality disorder?

Narcissism is not necessarily a manifestation of a mental disorder. Pathological narcissism is associated with impaired personality functioning. Personality disorders are persistent, maladaptive patterns of behavior that affect at least two of four domains: cognitive (thinking), affective (emotional patterns), interpersonal (patterns of relating to others), and behavioral control. 10% of the population suffers from various personality disorders - or every 10th person around us.

The American Psychiatric Association introduced narcissistic personality disorder into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1968. In the DSM-5, narcissistic disorder is included in cluster B - disorders with impaired self-esteem and interpersonal communication. It also includes antisocial, borderline and histrionic disorders.

Diagnostic criteria for the disorder according to DSM-5 include:

  • Grandiose sense of self-importance
  • Preoccupation with fantasies of limitless success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
  • The belief that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by or should be associated with similarly high-ranking people and organizations.
  • Need for excessive admiration
  • Feeling right or having an unreasonable expectation of special treatment or extreme loyalty
  • Tendency to use others for one's own needs or desires
  • Lack of empathy or unwillingness/inability to acknowledge and respect the needs and feelings of others.
  • Tendency to envy or the belief that others envy them
  • Feelings of arrogance manifested in behavior and/or attitude

In ICD-10 (F60.8), symptoms of narcissistic disorder (narcissistic personality) personality include a grandiose sense of importance (in reality or in fantasy), preoccupation with one's own limitless success, the need for constant admiration, the belief that the person is special and unique , exploitation of other people for one’s own purposes, lack of empathy for people, extreme arrogance and jealousy towards others if the suffering person has problems that interfere with adequate adaptation to life and activity. Often, narcissism is one of the traits of a stable Dark Triad of personality.

How to deal with a narcissist?

Narcissists are considered a natural magnet for codependent sufferers. Codependency is a tendency toward overly passive or overprotective behavior that negatively impacts relationships and quality of life. To reduce the effects of psychological trauma when dealing with a narcissist, you must:

  • First of all, you need to identify for yourself the traits of narcissism in your partner.
  • The next step is to realize that you are dealing with someone who can hurt you, and some self-care in this situation can help you protect yourself to some extent from the emotional pain that a narcissist can cause.
  • Accept that narcissists are very difficult to deal with. If possible, try to distance yourself from such people. This can be difficult because people with narcissistic traits tend to have blurred personal boundaries and resent you when you try to set your own.
  • Don't try to change them or expect them to change, otherwise you will be disappointed.
  • Know that if you challenge them directly, they will likely respond in any way possible. This may involve involving other people and trying to turn them against you. You need to find less confrontational ways to set your boundaries.
  • If you do need to confront such a person, try not to do it in front of a large audience, otherwise they will want to save face and will be much more dangerous than if there were no spectators.
  • Surround yourself with supportive people as much as possible to absorb some of the negativity you may experience when interacting with a narcissist.
  • Remember that narcissism cannot be corrected or cured. Most likely, a person will remain the way he is for the rest of his life.
  • If the narcissist is an Internet troll, then the main way to interact with him is to ignore and block him.

If it may be difficult for you to cope with existing problems on your own, you can always seek professional psychological help.

Andrey Demkin

Narcissism in women and men: features and main differences

The psychology of narcissism in men is profound, and the reasons lie in childhood upbringing. Moreover, this disease most often occurs among representatives of the stronger sex. Male patients try with all their might to achieve their own importance in the eyes of society. They achieve career growth and a high financial position by all means. When the desired goal is achieved, the patient's joy from what he receives lasts only a few minutes, after which their needs increase again and they begin to desire more.

Until reaching adulthood, growing goals and needs do not cause concern to the patient; he gradually realizes certain tasks and sees no reason to worry. However, subsequently the narcissist begins to realize that he has never achieved happiness. Men with this diagnosis are not able to build meaningful relationships with people; they destroy families, while the children of the narcissist also begin to suffer from the negative influence of their father.

As for female narcissism, it is expressed in the inability to understand her child, the inability to enjoy simple things and, as a result, dissatisfaction with her own life. Patients force their children to study day and night, to receive only excellent grades, and conflicts often occur against the backdrop of the fact that the child did not live up to his mother’s expectations.

Personal intersexual relationships also suffer from female narcissism: patients choose exclusively caring and attentive men as partners, but they themselves do not respect them, because they consider them weak-willed and incapable of anything. If both people in a couple have signs of narcissism, a relentless struggle of characters begins: these people will compete with each other in absolutely everything, and such a tense relationship is unlikely to last long.

How to recognize in men

The primary sign of the deviation in question is considered to be an irresistible desire to express oneself. If narcissistic personality disorder is observed in the stronger half, then it can be determined by insincere narratives about their own irresistibility. They will demonstrate high intelligence to others, even at a rather weak level. Narcissists also strive to “destroy” their counterparts in order to look more advantageous against the background of their interlocutor.

Narcissistic personality disorder in men can be recognized by their lack of empathy. The owner of the deviation in question at the level of feelings is deprived of empathy, concern for loved ones, and willingness to help. He understands the meaning of the listed emotions, but cannot feel them.

A person with this deviation always strives to be different. He wants to look more handsome and smart. She often uses cosmetics to improve her appearance. Such a person may outwardly demonstrate a successful existence, although this may often not correspond to reality. He tries by any means to impress those around him, sometimes through deception. As time passes, the narcissistic individual begins to believe in the false image and resist reality, which is a sign of schizophrenia.

Narcissists are characterized by pompousness. They strive to stand out at the expense of others. They behave as if they were “blue blooded”, and the rest were born only to serve them. It is their habit to humiliate their interlocutors, which conditionally increases their personal self-esteem. By humiliating others, they improve their own mood.

Narcissistic individuals lack the ability to be active listeners. A person who knows how to listen has empathy and can show patience. Persons with the described deviation are not characterized by the above properties. Such individuals tend to interrupt their interlocutors, strive to always be the center of attention, and their conversation always “revolves” around the narcissist’s “I”. They tend to exaggerate their own achievements. They pass off even minimal results as the fruits of long labor. Narcissists tend to show off, often with external accessories that often do not belong to them or were not earned by them. They are incapable of self-criticism. And therefore, with minor failure, they will always blame the environment, circumstance, fortune, but not their own person.

Narcissists are obsessed with success and power. At the same time, success does not imply “hard labor” on one’s own personality, self-development, only an external gloss. Subordination and equality are unusual for them.

Diagnostic features

This pathology can be determined during a personal conversation with the patient. The conversation format in the form of an interview is best suited for these purposes. Based on the survey results, scores are assigned, based on which the psychiatrist determines whether the patient has a serious personality disorder or a borderline state, which is expressed in inflated self-esteem.

Among the questions are the following:

  1. Why do you think you deserve close attention and special treatment?
  2. In your opinion, who might deserve your attention, and why exactly?
  3. What kind of people are you willing to sacrifice your free time for?
  4. Is it important for you to spend time exclusively with influential people with high social status?

It is important to distinguish narcissism from ordinary inflated self-esteem, as well as from symptoms of other diseases (for example, schizophrenia).

Why is narcissism dangerous? If correction of an individual’s behavior is not started in a timely manner, the mental disorder may progress. As a result, the patient will be unable to maintain social connections and engage in professional activities, gradually moving away from public life, which leads to the development of other mental disorders. In some cases, aggression and psychosis appear, the patient ceases to control his behavior. Treatment in such situations is possible only in a hospital.

Narcissism

Features of behavior

They deliver a “blow” on the sly and, with a considerable amount of cunning and sarcasm, watch as the recently self-confident, cheerful victim is morally trampled and dejected. In personal relationships, they initially idealize their partner, over time radically changing their position and transferring him to the rank of a subject not worthy of attention and love.

girl humiliates a man

The devalued former lover is forgotten, “crossed out” from life without hesitation or regret. They do not know how to build happy, harmonious relationships, because they tend to destroy ties with friends and chosen ones for the sake of fun and moral satisfaction. Building friendly relations with other representatives of the fair sex, they evaluate each candidate and determine the degree of threat.

If anyone from their environment, in their opinion, has great merits (career success, outstanding appearance, financial well-being, successful marriage, high social status), he is subject to immediate moral destruction. The rest (who do not pose a threat) become targets for ruthless exploitation. They use loyal, in their opinion, unremarkable people, until their resources and capabilities are exhausted.

They often demonstrate ostentatious admiration, which hides true feelings - envy, irritation, contempt. A narcissistic woman is an exemplary schemer and gossip monger. To achieve her goals, she “inflates” facts, falsifies data, and interprets any situation to her advantage. She easily turns once close people against each other, promptly “whispering” unflattering comments about the other to each side of the conflict.

A narcissistic woman skillfully hides her true face behind a mask of friendliness and goodwill. It is precisely such people, operating “behind the back” of the victim, who are capable of tarnishing the most impeccable reputation. You should be wary if you hear frank praises addressed to you from an unfamiliar girl. Praising and showing admiration, she “hides a stone in her bosom” and is simply waiting for the right moment to use it.

Trying to win over a new acquaintance, she secretly hopes to find out personal, compromising information, which can then be used for selfish purposes. This is the case when you can hear from someone else’s lips a free interpretation of intimate personal secrets, retold in a sarcastic, mocking tone. Negative comments about friends, colleagues and loved ones reveal her duplicity.

A sincere person speaks harshly towards others under the influence of circumstances - a conflict situation, stress, personal troubles, emotional breakdown. He always speaks out openly. If he considers another person unpleasant to communicate with, he will avoid contact with him instead of spreading gossip or criticizing him behind his back.

If she is aware of her intellectual superiority, she will not miss the opportunity to highlight mistakes and shortcomings in the work of colleagues, students, and acquaintances. At the same time, he does not avoid harsh expressions and outright ridicule, disguising harsh, often biased statements as “constructive criticism.”

Her chosen one constantly has to deal with the problem of a “love triangle”. She deliberately attracts new fans in order to aggravate personal relationships and keep her partner in a negative tone. Easily commits emotional and physical infidelity without feeling regret or remorse about it. She lies to her partner, who usually sincerely admires her extraordinary appearance and intellectual abilities, and therefore immediately and willingly indulges any of her whims.

female infidelity

Testing for the presence of the disease

In modern psychiatry there are several effective techniques aimed at identifying narcissism. One of these methods includes a special questionnaire, which includes 163 questions of various nature. When studying the answers to them, the specialist studies the so-called Lickert scale.

The patient must express the degree of his approval or the degree of disagreement with this or that statement. As a result, the psychiatrist calculates the narcissism coefficient. It is worth noting that this technique also has contraindications: for example, it cannot and is not advisable to use it during periods of severe depression or acute psychosis.

Sad facts about narcissistic men

You shouldn’t expect a narcissist to understand problems; he is not interested in understanding the needs of others through logic or intellect. And emotional empathy is absolutely not developed.

Sign up for our psychological consultation (Moscow), in person or Skype:

Psychological violence, recovery from abusers and narcissists, breaking up with an abuser, changing abusive behavior, self-esteem, relationships, loss of meaning, nice (comfortable) person syndrome, age-related crises, existential problems, loneliness, relationships “adult children - parents,” and more...

About us/Make an appointment

Of course, you can sacrifice on the altar of love, feel sorry and sympathize, swallow tears and forgive humiliation, but it’s better to run away as quickly as possible. It is impossible to help a narcissist; do not waste your mental strength and health, do not wait for the “unwise child” to break your psyche. In this situation, you need to save yourself.

Narcissistic men are considered “premature boys,” but these “children” create a personal hell for those who love them. Day after day they destroy a woman’s psyche, using all methods of manipulation to do this. The sooner you see the narcissist’s selfishness in your loved one, the faster and with minimal losses you will leave the relationship.

The narcissistic personality type is not the one who loves only himself; human feelings and emotions are, in principle, inaccessible to him due to a distorted perception of the picture of the world, his place in society. The area of ​​relationships for egoists is absolutely closed or extremely distorted. And here there is nothing of the presented chosenness. This is a banal mental disorder. Unfortunately, the anomaly cannot be corrected. No way, never.

Subscribe to my youtube channel

  • about the author
  • Copyright materials

Andrey Petrakov

Hello! This is a blog on psychology, in which significant attention is paid to the topics of psychological violence - abuse, narcissism, relationships, personal crises, taking responsibility for one's life, increasing self-esteem, existential problems. The cost of consulting a psychologist is 3000 rubles/hour, in person (Moscow, Maryina Roshcha metro station), or via Skype About us/Make an appointment

Latest materials: (See all)

  • What is toxic shame and why shouldn’t it be mixed with guilt? — September 14, 2020
  • Video: the fundamental difference between an abuser and a non-abuser? — September 12, 2020
  • Six signs of covert hostility (passive aggression) - September 3, 2020

How to treat narcissism?

Treatment of this mental disorder is ineffective at home. If signs of such a disease appear, you should contact a psychotherapist who will conduct the necessary diagnostics and prescribe effective therapy to normalize self-esteem.

At the same time, doctors are not recommended to show weakness in the presence of the patient, since he can take advantage of the specialist’s uncertainty and influence the course of therapy, as well as pressure on the medical staff. At the same time, the psychiatrist must treat the patient with respect, so that the patient cannot constantly demonstrate a sense of self-importance.

Treatment of narcissism in men and women includes individual psychotherapeutic techniques. During psychotherapy, the specialist must refrain from excessively criticizing the patient, otherwise his self-esteem will be further damaged. You should not show feelings of pity and sympathy: such a person may simply not understand the doctor’s compassion.

It is worth noting that not all patients are aware of their problem, so the specialist needs to act very carefully and first identify exactly what signs this disease has (it is best to do this using the example of other narcissistic people).

Group psychotherapy is also of no small importance, during which the patient develops a healthy and adequate individuality (and not pathological narcissism): regular group conversations with the right bias will allow the patient to get rid of inflated self-esteem, begin to correctly understand other people and consider them full-fledged individuals.

In some cases, therapy also includes medication. The patient may be prescribed psychotropic medications to eliminate increased excitability and anxiety (if such symptoms are present). If the patient experiences depressive states associated with deep psychological complexes, a course of antidepressants is prescribed. All these drugs are prescribed only by the attending physician. If treatment takes place in a hospital setting, medical personnel must monitor the intake of medications. Medicines are prescribed in strictly defined dosages because they have many side effects.

Only in severe cases therapy is carried out in a hospital setting. As his well-being improves, the patient can undergo treatment on an outpatient basis, that is, at home with regular visits to a specialist for psychotherapy sessions. The exact duration of such sessions and their number are determined individually, depending on the specifics of the mental disorder. Often, it is not possible to completely get rid of manifestations of narcissism and inflated self-esteem, but with the help of complex therapy, it is possible to correct the patient’s judgment and personal characteristics, help him begin to fully communicate with other people, and establish family and friendly connections with a minimum of conflict situations.

Narcissism

Definition of the concept and classification

Narcissism is the manifestation of a person’s character traits in the form of extremely inflated self-esteem and excessive narcissism. Such people have changeable emotions and incorrect perceptions of their own person. There is excessive self-love and increased attention, the desire to surpass everyone in everything. Narcissists are selfish individuals, capable of empathy and sympathy, feeling the need for recognition and to be praised. Despite their negative character traits, narcissists try to hide their own insecurities from outside influence.

There are classic narcissists, as well as insecure ones:

  • the first ones feel their irresistibility, feel important - they treat everyone condescendingly, allow them to take care of themselves;
  • the latter feel their specialness, while constantly doubting. Such individuals need admiration, they need the attention of other people.

Among narcissists, four types are conventionally distinguished.

  1. Two-faced individuals. They surround themselves with people who idolize them and believe in exclusivity. If a person appears in a social circle who treats them with disdain, such an individual is no longer noticed and is removed from sight. They can show aggression towards people who begin to criticize them.
  2. Individuals who want to shine. He needs universal recognition, craves fame every minute. Confidence in one's irresistibility borders on delusions of grandeur. If you begin to communicate closely with such an individual, you understand that, in fact, he is nothing, a lack of self-sufficiency, anxiety, emptiness, and self-doubt are hidden inside. The inner world of this individual is full of experiences. This behavior is a protective reaction of the body. His biggest fear is that others will find out about his vulnerability. At times he himself forgets about his true self, connecting with the image of a narcissist. For such an individual, it is important not to merge with the others, not to become part of the gray mass. Such a person will not admit his problems. He doesn't care if he is mistaken for a madman, as long as he is not considered a failure.
  3. Consumers of love from women. Such individuals can be sure that they do not need to communicate with ladies, but they fade away without love. Such individuals cannot cope without female attention and care. Thanks to this, they have the opportunity to fill the inner emptiness. They cannot truly love, even themselves. Such individuals are absolutely confident in their abilities. Emotional dependencies cause great fear, which is why such individuals avoid serious relationships. They constantly keep their distance, control their feelings, this is what makes them attractive in the eyes of a representative of the opposite sex. Relationships can end easily and without explanation.
  4. Detached seducers. Such a person has no interest in the people around him, he treats everyone with disdain, and is unable to remain alone. For such an individual, it is important to be admired and applauded. This allows you to fill your body with energy. Such a man will definitely shower you with compliments, show his generosity, and do crazy things. Such individuals manipulate other people, are able to abruptly change the topic of conversation, and constantly demonstrate that only they are worthy of everyone’s attention.

There is also such a thing as perverted narcissism in a man. It manifests itself by seducing a woman, gaining power over her, and manipulating her. Such a person easily misleads his victim and behaves prudently.

Married to a narcissist

Marriage with a man of this type is not easy and full of contradictions. A narcissistic husband will be demanding of his wife, he will demand a lot from her, but he himself will not tolerate disapproval from her.

A narcissistic man is vindictive and envious. It is not easy for him to experience the successes of others. Envy is a constant companion of insecure people.

He will demand from his wife to serve his goals and interests, sometimes at the expense of her complete abandonment of her own hobbies and aspirations. He himself, his home and everyday life should be the center of attention of his other half.

At the same time, due to his emotional detachment, he can leave his devoted and submissive wife for the sake of a younger passion and not feel remorse.

Rating
( 1 rating, average 5 out of 5 )
Did you like the article? Share with friends: