Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissists typically suffer from a psychological disorder known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Distinctly, a narcissist often feel entitled, is self-centered, portray a constant need for attention, is exploitative, deem themselves as overly important, disregard others feelings, excess grandiosity, among other vices.
Notably, narcissists are toxic people; one feels mentally drained when interacting with them on the daily. Therefore, it is important to understand their traits, to mitigate adverse outcomes that may present when dealing with them. Contemporary, there is an increase of people suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Is it because of the competitive lifestyle? We shall find out shortly below. Accordingly, it is necessary to first look at the psychoanalytic etiology of narcissism, and conceptualize its development.
What Leads to a Person Becoming a Narcissist?
Does one just find themselves being narcissists as adults?
Well, according to some studies on narcissism, this psychological disorder may present in some individuals as a genetic predisposition. Accordingly, narcissists whose condition is a causation of genetic predisposition apparently possess traits such as dysfunctional affect, aggression, and reduced tolerance to distress.
On the other hand, narcissism may be an effect of the environment one grew in. For instance, being rejected as a child, developmental experiences, fragile childhood ego, and abusive childhood experiences. These factors may predispose one to being a narcissist as an adult.
Notably, NPD has otherwise been referred as a development. This means that there is still emerging knowledge and discovery on the disorder. This is due to its close relation to other disorders such as borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Consequently, scholars such as Otto Kernberg and Eve Caligor have devised standardized evaluation tools to elaborate and understand the disorder.
In our post today, we will go with the renowned diagnostic method used by mental health professionals worldwide to curve our understanding of NPD. This method is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) of a Narcissist suffering from NPD
Narcissistic Personality Disorder requires long-term evaluation. However, the following consistent traits are evident outcomes by a mental health professional, as per DSM-5 criteria. Additionally, there are other traits of a narcissist beside the apparent or easily noticeable narcissist characteristics. The prevailing characteristic of a narcissist include; lack of empathy, pervasive grandiosity, and excessive need for admiration.
On the whole, narcissists generally portray the following characteristics/traits according to the DSM-5 criteria.
- Exploit and manipulate others,
- Excessive attempts to attract the focus and other’s attention,
- Negative reaction to criticism,
- Ignores others feelings and needs,
- Are preoccupied with fantasies of beauty, success, and power
- Exaggerates achievements and talents,
- Behaves in an arrogant manner with least regard of their company (friends),
- Expects special treatment because of perceived superiority (self-imposed), and
- Most importantly, a narcissist has an inflated sense of self-importance and entitlement.
Below is a short video illustrating Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a nutshell.
Other Notable Emerging Traits of a Narcissist Include:
- Gaslighting
- Lying
- Cheats in Relationships
Can Narcissism be Cured?
Narcissism, as noted above, is a personality disorder. Narcissism is caused by one or an interplay of factors such as genes, environment (such as having a narcissistic parent-child relationships), and neurobiology (connection between one’s behavior and nervous system).
Often, some parents put their children on a pedestal and shower them with limitless praise. Notably, this is detrimental as a recent study has contended that this act can cause the said children to develop NPD later in life. Consequently, this makes narcissism a condition with neither distinct medical physical signs, nor predefined mental symptoms. Thus, we cannot authoritatively conclude that it has a known cure, but some Mental health measures can be employed to mitigate it.
However, the psychological mental condition can be managed through talk therapy.
Conclusively, the victims personal efforts, will and collaboration with the mental health professional is what determines the extent that the psychological condition can be managed. Narcissism does not have a certified known cure, but is rather mitigated through talk therapy.
