1218: On Narcissism
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/05/19
Otto Kernberg
“People with narcissistic personalities tend to be inordinately envious of other people, to idealize some people … and to depreciate and treat with contempt those from whom they do not expect anything … Their relations with others are frequently exploitative and parasitic. Beneath a surface that is often charming and engaging, one senses coldness and ruthlessness.”
(1998)
“[Malignantly narcissistic leaders] are able to take control because their inordinate narcissism is expressed in grandiosity, a confidence in themselves, and the assurance that they know what the world needs.”
(2003)
Heinz Kohut
“Although in theoretical discussions it will usually not be disputed that narcissism, the libidinal investment of the self, is per se neither pathological nor obnoxious, there exists an understandable tendency to look at it with a negatively toned evaluation as soon as the field of theory is left.”
(1966)
“The antithesis to narcissism is not the object relation but object love.”
(1966)
Elsa Ronningstam
“…Until recently the natural course of NPD has not received much attention in the clinical and empirical literature, and there is very little documented knowledge about the factors that might contribute to change … Our findings suggested that what appeared to be a narcissistic personality disorder at baseline actually included two types of pathology: one being a context‑ or state‑dependent type of pathology, and the other being a more long‑term and stable trait pathology.”
(2005)
Karyl McBride
“Daughters of narcissistic mothers absorb the message ‘I am valued for what I do, rather than for who I am.’”
(2008)
“A narcissistic mother sees her daughter … as a reflection and extension of herself rather than as a separate person with her own identity … Thus, the daughter is always scrambling to find the ‘right’ way to respond.”
(2008)
Craig Malkin
“Remind yourself: You have a right to your disappointment … The solution isn’t to slide down the spectrum and become Echo.”
(2015)
Wendy Behary
“You may have heard the term ‘narcissistic injury.’ … For all their bravado, [narcissists] are easily injured by criticism … Instead of appearing wounded, they will hurl the prickliest words at you, avoid you, or demand your applause for some other part of their wonderfulness.”
(2021)
Ramani Durvasula
“The narcissist is like a bucket with a hole in the bottom: No matter how much you put in, you can never fill it up.”
(2015)
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