Psychoanalytic Theories on Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality

Ronningstam, Elsa

doi:10.1002/9781118093108.ch5

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…On the other hand, narcissistic traumas, experienced in young age, can also be deeply internalized and subjectively organized in a narcissistic patient’s mind, contributing to an armor-like, seemingly impenetrable narcissistic character functioning, with denial, omnipotence, and organizing and protecting narcissistic fantasies, covering split off shame and fear. These types of traumatic experiences may easily be either misdiagnosed or bypassed in a diagnostic evaluation as they often differ from standard psychiatric definitions of trauma involving abuse, neglect, catastrophes, and so forth (Ronningstam, 2012b; Simon, 2002; Krystal, 1998) and can remain effectively shielded. Facing the impact of external life events might actually help some patients to begin to access and process such subjectively internalized experiences.…”

Section: Narcissistic Traumamentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond the diagnostic traits: A collaborative exploratory diagnostic process for dimensions and underpinnings of narcissistic personality disorder.

Ronningstam¹

2014

Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment

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Narcissistic personality disorder has been challenging to diagnose in psychiatric and general clinical practice. Several circumstances and personality factors related to the nature of pathological narcissism and NPD contribute. NPD is usually a moderately impairing condition, often accompanied by specific capabilities and high level of functioning. Comorbidity of other urgent and recognizable psychiatric conditions, such as mood and substance use disorders or suicidality, can override even significant narcissistic personality functioning. Patients' limited ability to recognize own contribution to problems or impact on other people, their hypersensitivity and defensive reactivity, and compromised ability for self-disclosure, self-reflection, and emotional empathy can make initial evaluations difficult. The aim of this study is to integrate recent clinical and empirical knowledge on the underpinnings of pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality functioning, and distinguish narcissistic self-regulatory patterns that are affecting diagnostic traits. A more flexible, exploratory, and collaborative diagnostic process is proposed that integrates the patients subjective experiences and interpersonal functioning in terms of self-regulation, agency, and traits in a way that is informative and meaningful for both the patient and the clinician.

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Section: Narcissistic Traumamentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond the diagnostic traits: A collaborative exploratory diagnostic process for dimensions and underpinnings of narcissistic personality disorder.

Ronningstam¹

2014

Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment

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“…Alternatively, when parents are particularly controlling or involved, 24,45,46 the child can experience the parent as excessively attentive, which may lead to two outcomes-the gratification of normal narcissistic needs or aggression toward efforts to be controlled. One such practice is failed empathic attunement, the failure to meet the child's basic physical, emotional, or social needs; such experiences are devoid of parental mirroring and validation, leaving the child confused.…”

Section: Malignant Self-regardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Malignant Self-Regard

Huprich

2014

Harvard Review of Psychiatry

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Several personality disorders have been prominent in the clinical literature but have been inadequately recognized in the diagnostic manuals. This group includes masochistic, self-defeating, depressive, and vulnerably narcissistic personality disorders. The theoretical and empirical relationship of these disorders is reviewed. It is proposed that the construct of malignant self-regard may account for the similarities among them. The construct describes these personality types as being fundamentally related through problematic manifestations of self-structure. The article discusses the diagnostic value of such a construct and the implications of a psychodynamically informed framework for classifying personality pathology.

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“…Although narcissists are known for their grandiosity, an equally central aspect of narcissism is a disregard of others (Campbell & Foster, 2007; Morf & Rhodewalt, 2001). Early psychodynamic theories of narcissism argued that it reflects too much attachment of libidinal energy on the self and not enough on others (Ronningstam, 2010). Recent research supports the idea that narcissists care more about themselves than others.…”

Section: Narcissism and A Lack Of Communal Focusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Down-Regulating Narcissistic Tendencies

Giacomin

Jordan

2013

Pers Soc Psychol Bull

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Narcissism has been conceptualized as a set of coherent, mutually reinforcing attributes that orients individuals toward self-enhancement and positive self-feelings. In this view, reducing one element of narcissism--such as a greater concern for agency than communion--may situationally reduce narcissism in a state-like manner. Across five studies, we found that increasing communal focus toward others decreases state narcissism. In Study 1, participants induced to feel empathy reported less state narcissism. In Studies 2 to 4, participants primed with interdependent self-construal reported less state narcissism than control participants and those primed with independent self-construal. Furthermore, in Study 4, changes in state narcissism mediated changes in desire for fame and perceptions that others deserve help. Thus, changes in one element of narcissism may situationally reduce narcissistic tendencies. These findings suggest that narcissism is more state-like and context-dependent than previously assumed.

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Psychoanalytic Theories on Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality

Cited by 19 publications

References 23 publications

Beyond the diagnostic traits: A collaborative exploratory diagnostic process for dimensions and underpinnings of narcissistic personality disorder.

Beyond the diagnostic traits: A collaborative exploratory diagnostic process for dimensions and underpinnings of narcissistic personality disorder.

Malignant Self-Regard

Down-Regulating Narcissistic Tendencies

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