Origins of Narcissism in Greek Mythology
The term narcissism is derived from the legend of “Narcissus” in Greek mythology. The legend depicts that Narcissus is a beautiful young man who rejects the advances of Echo, a mountain nymph. Heartbroken, she lives out the rest of her life in desolation. As punishment, Nemesis, the goddess of revenge, lures Narcissus to a pool of water. Here, he catches an image of himself and falls in love with it, not realising it is his own reflection. The more he gazes, the more infatuated he becomes. Eventually he realises that his love can never be reciprocated and, condemned to the same fate that he had inflicted on Echo, he remains in despair, fixated by his image until death.
Defining Modern-Day Narcissism
Much like the legend, modern day narcissism is transcribed with similar features. One of the core processes of narcissism involves efforts to preserve, maintain or regain a grandiose sense of self. The other features involve:
- Self-importance
- Persistent fantasies of success, power, attractiveness, intellectual superiority or ideal love
- Sense of superiority and specialness
- Wish to be admired
- Strong sense of entitlement
- Manipulating and exploiting others
- Lack of empathy
- Belief others are envious of him/her and envy of others
- Arrogant and contemptuous attitudes and behaviours
Psychological Function of Narcissism
More often than not, the practice of grandiosity (or an inflated ego) is a mask to avoid feeling threatened, inferior, weak and/or fragile. It serves the functional purpose of protecting oneself from low self-esteem or self-worth. However, narcissism as a psychological state runs on a continuum, ranging from normal to pathological. Pathological narcissism is defined by a fragility in self-regulation, self-esteem and sense of agency, accompanied by self-protective reactivity and emotional dysregulation. In other words, pathological narcissism involves frail self-esteem, confidence and difficulty in managing emotions, accompanied by a strong need to protect oneself. This can manifest as:
Types of Pathological Narcissism
- Grandiose or overt narcissism: This type of narcissism is characterized by arrogant, self-assured, dominant, pretentious and exhibitionist or aggressive attitudes and behaviours.
- Vulnerable or covert narcissism: People with vulnerable narcissism often present as overly sensitive, insecure, defensive and anxious about an underlying sense of shame and inadequacy.
In both these cases, the narcissistic person’s overt attitudes and behaviours may differ markedly from their inner subjective experience, where grandiosity may conceal an underlying sense of impotence, shame and inadequacy and, conversely manifest shyness and reticence may shield a secret sense of importance.
Manifestations in Daily Life
A common theme in a narcissistic person’s life is the experience of relationships that do not live up to their elevated standards and expectations. They often lack insight into their problematic traits, externalising their problems and blaming others for treating them badly. A sense of victimhood or entitlement is common, with the individual criticising others for faults that they see in them but deny in themselves.
Other manifest difficulties include social isolation, sexual dysfunction, irritability and aggression, and an increasing reliance on drugs and/or alcohol to elevate mood. Feelings of emptiness, dysphoria and despair, shame, humiliation and worthlessness may also predominate, particularly in relation to events such as the breakup or loss of their job.
Behavioral Patterns of Narcissism
Furthermore, narcissists also exhibit many extraverted behaviours (such as talking, socializing, chattering about friends) that are more likely to leave a good impression. However, they also exhibit disagreeable behaviors (arguing, swearing, anger words) that help explain the difficulties they have maintaining favorable reputations.
Exploitative and entitled narcissists are more likely to exhibit academic disengagement (such as skipping classes, not submitting assignments, withdrawing from class discussions) — inflated self-importance may lead to shirking academic obligations, which may potentially contribute to disappointing academic outcomes.
Use of sexual language and impulsive and promiscuous sexual strategies are also behavioral manifestations of pathological narcissism. This may be because narcissists in general are attractive and they may be slightly more inclined towards sexually-coercive tendencies.
Narcissists also exhibit high levels of vanity and interstate in their own appearance (e.g., ‘‘I like looking at myself in the mirror,” ‘‘I like to start new fads and fashions”). Thus, they may pay special attention to their appearance, leading to observable manifestations such as matching, fashionable clothes, and a tidy, organized appearance. Moreover, their exhibitionist tendencies might lead them to dress and adorn themselves in provocative, attention-grabbing ways (e.g., wearing flashy or revealing clothing or adorning themselves with makeup). They are also more likely to use clothes to enhance their status i.e. buy brand-name, expensive and stylish clothes.
Narcissism spans across a spectrum – from healthy self-regard to fragile, pathological patterns driven by insecurity and a need for validation. Often masking vulnerability with confidence or charm, it can manifest as charisma alongside relational instability and self-sabotage. Recognizing these dynamics fosters empathy while underscoring the need for clear boundaries.
Understanding narcissism through psychology highlights its impact on mental health. Recognizing these patterns is key to fostering self-awareness and healthier relationships.
Photo Credits:
First image: freepik
Second image: freepik
References
Edershile, E. A., & Wright, A. G. (2022). Narcissism dynamics. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 16(1), e12649.
Holtzman, N. S., Vazire, S., & Mehl, M. R. (2010). Sounds like a narcissist: Behavioral manifestations of narcissism in everyday life. Journal of Research in Personality, 44(4), 478-484.
Vazire, S., Naumann, L. P., Rentfrow, P. J., & Gosling, S. D. (2008). Portrait of a narcissist: Manifestations of narcissism in physical appearance. Journal of Research in Personality, 42(6), 1439-1447.
Yakeley, J. (2018). Current understanding of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder. BJPsych advances, 24(5), 305-315.
Sakshi
About the author
Sakshi is a clinical psychologist with a deep passion for understanding human behavior, a strong drive for research, and a keen eye for psychological intricacies. Committed to continuous learning, she seeks to explore every facet of psychology, from theory to practice, to better support and empower individuals. With a curiosity that fuels her pursuit of knowledge, she strives to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications, making psychology more accessible and impactful.
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