Synonyms in a broader sense
- Self-indulgence
- Self-Love
- Selfishness
- Selfishness
In Greek mythology, the figure of “Narcissus” was the son of the river god Kephisos. This young man once spurned the love of a nymph. He was then cursed by the goddess Aphrodite.
It was his fate to fall in love immortally with his reflection. According to the legend, he died when a leaf once disturbed his reflection on the surface of the water. The narcissistic personality disorder is characterized above all by a clear tendency to overestimate oneself and one’s abilities, by a very limited ability to empathize with other people and by an extreme sensitivity to criticism from other people.
Epidemiology
It is estimated that the incidence of narcissistic personality disorder in the normal population is about 0.3%. In psychiatric patients the incidence is about 1%. The above figures are estimates. From my personal and clinical experience the incidence of this disorder is significantly higher.
Diagnosis
Every diagnosis made in this country must be “encrypted”, if one wants to do it professionally and not simply from the gut. This means that there are systems in which all diseases known to medicine are recorded more or less well. So a doctor cannot simply go and distribute diagnoses until certain criteria are met that the encryption system requires.
If the criteria are not met, the diagnosis cannot be made. The research uses the DSM – IV system (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), which comes from the American region. Here the descriptions of the symptoms of the disease are often actually more precise.
In order to make a diagnosis, precisely defined criteria must be met. Diagnostic criteria according to DSM IV (the beginning of the disorder is in early adulthood and there must be at least 5 criteria). This pattern of behavior must be permanent and conspicuous in various areas of life (relationships, work, family, friends, etc.).
In order to make the diagnosis, the person must suffer from their deviant behavior.
- Has a grandiose sense of his own importance (exaggerates own achievements and talents, expected to be recognized as superior without corresponding achievements)
- Is strongly occupied by fantasies of boundless success, power, glamour, beauty or ideal love
- Believes to be “special” and unique and to be understood by other, special or respected persons (or institutions) or to associate only with them
- Requires excessive admiration
- Demonstrates a sense of entitlement, i.e. exaggerated expectations of a particularly preferred treatment or automatic response to one’s own expectations
- Is exploitative in interpersonal relationships, i.e. takes advantage of others to achieve his own goals
- Shows a lack of empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
- Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him
- Shows arrogant, overbearing behavior or attitudes
The actual designation “narcissistic”, refers first of all to personal overestimation of one’s own capabilities.
In the clinical picture of narcissistic personality disorder, on the other hand, the problem area lies primarily in the interpersonal interaction of the patient with his or her environment. He often presents himself with the typical characteristics of a lack of empathy for other people, fear of criticism and erroneous social behavior. In particular, excessive self-presentation and emphasis on one’s own greatness leads to regular confrontations with other people.
If these now try to evaluate e.g. the patient’s performance more realistically or do not want to and cannot understand the superiority, the narcissist feels a real threat to his personality and thus justifies a strengthening of his behavior. At this point we would like to refer to our page where we have listed and commented on some practical examples of “applied narcissism”. These examples were kindly provided to us free of charge by some (usually) unknown guest authors.