NPD: Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a personality disorder listed in the second axis, cluster 'B' of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association. The next edition of the DSM (DSM-5) proposes to define NPD in a new light, with a heavier basis on personality traits than identifiable actions or symptoms. Briefly, a person suffering from NPD is self-absorbed to a pathological degree. In the past, NPD has also been referred to as "Megalomania".
Narcissism and narcissistic traits exist along a spectrum of varying intensities, ranging from the healthy narcissism that a 'normal' individual has to the malignant and occasionally sociopathic narcissism seen in NPD.
People with NPD are consumed with the task of presenting a false-image of themselves to the world at large, in order to be seen as extraordinary or 'special'. Delusions of power, grandeur, superiority, exceptional intelligence, sexual attraction and beauty are common manifestations.
Narcissists 'feed' off of others the way vampires feed on blood, taking in what is referred to as 'narcissistic supply'. Narcissistic supply is a term that essentially means "attention", both positive and negative. Narcissistic supply includes (but is not limited to) admiration, envy, 'love' (of all varieties and definition), sexual attraction, fear, and dominance or control. Narcissists are sometimes thought of as 'emotional vampires' or as being psychologically 'parasitic'.
There are many theories as to the etiology of NPD (where it comes from, how it's developed), though most agree that a fundamental lack of true self-esteem or self-worth is at the heart of the narcissist. The narcissist may believe on a very deep level that they are unworthy of love and acceptance, and so as a mental 'defense-mechanism' they artificially inflate their own importance. People with NPD are frequently willing to do this at the expense of others, and this need to be seen as valuable or admirable or 'better' than others can be all-consuming.
Narcissists make terrible parents. If parenting is the single biggest act of altruism one can undertake, the narcissist is the least able to thrive in this role. Continually placing the needs of an infant, a child, a youth or a teenager (or indeed, even an adult) before their own is a role too humble and debasing for someone of their 'importance'. But narcissists frequently choose to have families - a baby who instinctively loves his or her parent unconditionally provides a narcissistic mother with a constant and wholly dependent source of narcissistic supply. A child who can be intimidated and controlled is another fantastic source; a captive audience with few resources and lacking in experience and physical strength.
'Malignant narcissists' are those who seek to injure others for personal gain. A prime example of a malignant narcissist is the sexually/physically abusive narcissistic father who delights in the suffering of their child. Some malignant narcissists feed off of your 'fear' of them; it is reasonable to say that there are some disordered people who prefer infamy to anything else.
The term 'malignant narcissism' is generally used by ACoNs to denote a dangerous narcissist. Malignant narcissism can be overt (for example, your parent beat you, sexually abused you, locked you in a closet, or refused to provide you with the necessities of life such as food, shelter and clothing). It can also be covert (for example, your mother calls the dentist with a lie to prevent you from receiving novocaine when having your cavities drilled, but denies having any involvement. Or she whacks you hard over the head with a wooden hairbrush without provocation to gleefully 'demonstrate' what her mom used to do to her. Or she intentionally hires dodgy male babysitters and refuses to report it to the police when you are raped. These are some of my personal experiences).
NPD is (and isn't) treatable through psychotherapy or counselling. Theoretically, therapy could help the narcissist immensely, but people with NPD are famous for avoiding shrinks like the plague. They are often openly critical and dismissive of the field of psychology. According to some reports, narcissists who find themselves in therapy discontinue the process when their initial 'issue' is satisfactorily resolved, unwilling (or incapable) of delving any farther into their own psyches. It is probably best to say that NPD is 'practically untreatable' given the reluctance of a narcissist to undertake the therapeutic process, and their extreme hubris; their pride of epic proportions prevents them from seeing their selves as anything other than 'perfect'.
A beautifully written document explaining what it is to be raised by a narcissistic mother can be found here:
The anonymous author is unknown, and this work has been republished on the website in an effort to preserve it.
References and further reading:
- NPD as defined by the DSM-IV: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder#DSM-IV-TR_301.81
- NPD as defined by the DSM-5: http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=19
- NPD defined at US National Library of Medicine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001930/
- NPD explained on Psychology Today (note that here they assert that new research has debunked the notion that people with NPD have low self-esteem): http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder
