NPD - Lecture 7 Flashcards
(40 cards)
What are the general characteristics of NPD?
Pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, general lack of empathy for others and their discomfort
- Appears in adulthood and in many contexts
In more detail (characteristics of NPD)
- Overestimate their own abilities and inflate their accomplishments to the point of being boastful and pretentious
- Expect praise from others, ruminate about long overdue admiration if praise doesn’t arrive
- Consider yourself to be unique and superior -> Feel that only other similarly unique individuals can understand them and their special needs
- Put on some acquaintances elevated status because they accept them on the condition they receive constant love and admiration
- Exploit those around them
- Impatient and contemptuous with others
who talk about their own problems, classifying those problems as signs
of vulnerability or weakness.
What is the relationship of self-esteem and NPD?
Those with NPD usually have a very fragile self-esteem, and the narcissistic behaviors and beliefs are there in order to make up for it and hide from it.
In other words, their greatest vulnerability is that they have a weak sense of self and they fear that others will see that. Once that thin line of superiority is punctured they get very hurt and take things personally.
- Minor blows they become aggressive
- Major blows, they get destroyed
What are the prevalence rates of NPD?
- 1% of the whole population
- Higher prevalence in forensic settings
- More in men than women (50-75% in men)
- Young people more than old people
- More in those who were divorced, separated, or widowed
- More in black men and women and Hispanic women than whites
- develops in early adulthood and adolescence
- 3 to 4 as many people with NPD now than a decade ago
How can you conceptualize NPD on a dimensional level (Same as ASPD)?
- Identity: Emotion regulation fluctuates with self-esteem
- Self-direction: Goal setting based on approval, high/low personal standards
- Empathy: excessively attentive to other’s reactions
- Intimacy: Superficial relationships, restrained mutuality
History
What were Sigmund Freud’s comments on the neurotic sense of omnipotency?
This neurotic sense of omnipotency is a frank acknowledgment of the megalomania of infancy. This megalomania gets sacrificed as we grow up in order to be able to function in society and build relationships (narcissistic hurt)
- individuals who react with denial to narcissistic hurt experience a regression to the megalomania of childhood
- considered megalomania as a defense mechanism
When was the disorder first described?
1925, but the current name for it came into play in 1968
What are the five subtypes of NPD proposed by Millon?
- unprincipled narcissist: pathological lying and deception to obtain narcissistic supply
- amorous narcissist: obsessed with erotica and seduction
- compensatory narcissist: use of narcissistic supply to compensate for overwhelming feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem
- elitist narcissist: consumed with the external aspects of a superior manhood
- fanatic narcissist: paranoid, believe they’re gods, delusions of grandeur are their way to battle fragile self-esteem
What other three subtypes did Titshaw include?
- pure narcissists: mainly NPD characteristics
- attention narcissists: with histrionic features
- beyond the rules narcissist: with antisocial features
Development and Causes
What is the main model of development for NPD?
Biopsychosocial model, some evidence that it’s heritable as well
- 2/3 of the children of parents who were previously diagnosed with NPD have NPD themselves
What family figure has been thought to play an important role in NPD?
Father figure:
- Loss or absence of a strong father figure (physically or emotionally absent)
- Father may be condescending and critical, leaving the child to lack self-esteem which the child compensates later on by exaggerating his/her own sense of importance
What are some factors that might promote the development of NPD?
- Oversensitive temperament
- Excessive admiration, praise or criticism
- Overindulgence by family members
- Severe emotional abuse
- Unpredictable or unreliable caregiving
- Learning manipulative behaviors from others
What role does culture play in the development of NPD?
Narcissistic traits seem to be more common in modern societies than traditional ones
Effects and Costs
Why do most of the material and emotional costs in NPD occur?
People with NPD are very persuasive in getting what they want and don’t consider the losses or pain they inflict on others
What externalizing disorders do many people with NPD also suffer from (hint, compulsive)?
- Gambling addiction, and they expect friends and family to bail them out all the time
- Substance abuse may become a way to protect themselves from the harsh reality that they’re not always the center of attention
What drugs do people with NPD prefer?
Those that stimulate their inflated sense of self and give them a feeling of euphoria and vitality, as well as feelings of disappointment and depression (e.g. Cocaine)
What is the relationship between NPD and depression, and why is it so?
High relationship:
Exaggerated need for attention and admiration may actually function as a risk factor for depression. When the admiration fails to be available, the narcissist’s disappointment may be as exaggerated as the original need for attention had been.
What is one of the greatest threats to people with NPD?
Suicide:
A sudden injury to someone’s self-esteem might be so heavy they attempt suicide
In society
How does NPD affect the people’s social relationships?
- Due to their lack of empathy, many of their social relationships remain on the superficial level
- Self-preoccupation interferes with social interactions over a longer time period
- Crave attention from those around them, and they, too, may exaggerate the depth of their interpersonal relationships
- More likely to stress friend’s high social status
- As they expect to be held in high esteem by others, they also believe that
their specialness can only be truly understood and recognized by privileged people with social distinction
-> This feeling of specialty and self-entitlement leads them to exploit people
What techniques do people with NPD use to manipulate and control others?
- Ad Hominem: shift the conversation to questioning the other person’s
character, thereby distracting from the topic and putting them on the defensive. - Glittering Generalities: Use glowing statements to describe themselves without providing evidence for those statements
- The Big Lie: Saying so outrageous lies others don’t know where to start to refute them
- Intentional Vagueness: Being so vague your statements are left open to multiple interpretations
- Exaggerating and Minimizing: Minimize negative parts of their actions, exaggerate the grandiose parts of themselves
- Repetition: If I repeat something so many times, others start believing it
- Scapegoating
At Work
How does NPD affect people at the workplace?
- Charming and smart enough to do their jobs well in the beginning, but they soon get bored, and then they look for excitement.
- They only do things for others on the assumption that they’ll get something back
Why is the above problematic?
- they are not invested in the details and will try to blame coworkers for the problems
- person with NPD might sabotage coworkers’
- exploit workers
- Say they’ve done all the work whereas in reality they might haven’t
- Often feel lazy or feel above the need to show productivity in work activities.
Can people with NPD possibly function well in the workplace?
Yes:
- charisma encourage casual business acquaintances and they don’t have to develop close relationships with anyone in the work situation.
-> This allows them to make necessary tough business decisions without being bothered by other emotions
What professions score the highest on narcissistic traits?
Politicians, clergy and librarians
