We need to remember that there is healthy narcissism - we each need some
in order to believe and FEEL we are God's children, that creaturely as we are,
the Creator is mindful of us. This coexists with being able to enjoy other people's company and not get despairing or enraged if we meet with an ordinary setback.
It is when narcissism is way out of hand that other people are used and harmed.
[
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
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More recent research detected a further high?functioning variant, which is outgoing, energetic and articulate, with an exaggerated sense of self?importance.
The fact that narcissistic personality disorder is not a monolithic entity creates challenges for the diagnostician and the psychotherapist. In keeping with the notion that the key to diagnosis lies in the quality of love relationships, we suggest that a careful examination of modes of relatedness is crucial7.
As Kohut stressed, some patients who are narcissistically organized tend to idealize others so that they can bask in the reflected glory of an idealized object. They may insist on the most famous psychotherapist or pick a romantic partner purely on his/her looks so that others will be impressed.
The grandiose high functioning type may attract a lot of followers who have this second, 'Golden Calf' type of self centeredness.
What makes things really complicated is that a grandiose, self centered NPD
may actually accomplish a lot of good in altruistic ministries and professions.
They can attract hardworking followers who make excuses for them even after their hero's behavior deteriorates. Other disciples who begin to have misgivings may feel afraid to trust their feelings for fear of being reprimanded.
But their families and close disciples pay the highest price in neglect. I saw some hidden tragedies years ago when in the peace movement.
You can do heroic social justice work, have lots of adoring followers, bask in
their adoration, while they bask in your fame and heroism. Meanwhile, you may
be neglectful to your family, or worse, be cruel to them in private. If they
try to tell anyone the truth, they will not be believed. Worse, they are often
forced to put on a smiling front in public.
40yearsin2016 wrote:
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How many times did I hear JRS talk about being re-energized in his spirit when preaching - being able to go on for hours without any fatigue.
The professionals have a term for this: narcissistic supplies.
[
www.google.com]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2017 10:30PM by corboy.