Understanding the difference between subclinical Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder
It’s no wonder that Narcissism has become a catch-all moniker for an increasingly self-obsessed society, when words like “selfie” have become legitimized through their recent addition to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. In a digitized society where individuals are able to construct and promote a self-image instantaneously, our collective vanity has led psychologists and researchers to question whether or not Narcissism is truly a personality disorder or simply a reflection of normal trends in a perpetually evolving society. Many mental health professionals debated whether or not Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) should even be included in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). Yet, Narcissism is often misunderstood as a personality trait that solely reflects individuals who engage in excessive self-admiration. While the Greek myth of Narcissus describes a handsome young man content to gaze at his reflection in a pool of water for all eternity, Narcissistic individuals rely on others to continually validate their own self-worth. As a personality disorder, Narcissism encompasses traits that include a lack of empathy, a heightened sense of self-importance and entitlement, sensitivity to being overlooked or slighted, and a willingness to exploit others that can result in extremely intrapersonal and interpersonal dysfunction. Superficially, Narcissists are often charismatic, confident, and popular in work and social settings, but in long-term relationships they can be experienced by others as extremely defensive and needy. Moreover, without the ability to readily identify inadequacies, opportunities for growth are often missed by Narcissistic individuals who grapple with a pervasive sense of emptiness despite appearing otherwise. The good news is that psychotherapy is an effective means to bolster the attributes of Narcissistic individuals that contribute to success, while modifying distortions that contribute to interpersonal dysfunction.