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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Narcississtic People

DSM IV Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

  • has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

  • preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

  • believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

  • requires excessive admiration

  • has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

  • is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

  • lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

  • is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

  • shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes


    Childhood developmental factors and parenting behaviors that may contribute to the disorder include:

    • An oversensitive temperament at birth

    • Overindulgence and overvaluation by parents

    • Valued by parents as a means to regulate their own self-esteem

    • Excessive admiration that is never balanced with realistic feedback

    • Unpredictable or unreliable caregiving from parents

    • Severe emotional abuse in childhood

    • Being praised for perceived exceptional looks or talents by adults

    • Learning manipulative behaviors from parents

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