What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

The personality of a person is what ultimately defines who they are. This is what 99% of us look for in a person actually knowing who they really are. A person may be fun, loving, caring, and charismatic and a million other traits, but there is none like being narcissistic. A narcissistic person is one who truly believes that the world revolves around them and them only. This is someone who has an excessive or erotic interest in themselves, he/she craves constant admiration and never want to recognize differences with external objects. This type of obsessive behavior is characterized as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). This is definitely something that can have an adverse effect on children and their mental health. Parents suffering from narcissistic personality disorder are not very capable of raising and providing a quality, solid foundation for their children while maintaining and ensuring the preservation of their child’s mentality.

Andy is 26 years old. He says that his family has told him that he is too self-absorbed and arrogant. He says that he thinks that his family is wrong. He believes that his family only says these things because they are jealous of him and wish that they could be more like him. Andy says that he has lost some friends because they said he was not empathetic to them and it always seemed like he was putting them down, but Andy said that he is just very truthful and honest with them.

When one is stressed, one’s hormonal level in cortisol will increase rapidly. Excessive amounts of cortisol in your body could lead to high blood pressure, hypertension and even heart attack. This is one main reason why patients with this narcissistic mental disorder die faster than normal people. In addition, their narcissistic behaviors may turn off many others, causing them to have no friends at all. This could lead to depression if the individual is unable to find any one to show off. This is also another reason why shorter life expectancy occurs in people with this disorder. This could ultimately lead to drug or alcohol abuse, which could further shorten one’s

This paper will aim to define narcissistic personality disorder as a whole. The document will cover the topics of symptoms, prevalence, and contributing factor. In addition to covering the general description of the disorder the paper will present a case study to provide a clearer image of the parameters of NPD. 2 scientific studies will be presented in order to offer empirical data regarding NPD and to add knowledge recently acquired through experimentation.

Patrick Bateman’s personality disorder will be discussed in terms of effective treatment and also the etiological factors that could have given rise to Narcissistic Personality Disorder. An effective prevention strategy will be adapted for Bateman, considering the influences and possible history gleaned from the movie. In addition to the themes, treatment and factors associated with this personality disorder, more personality disorders will be briefly discussed at the end to show a well thought out and comprehensive paper.

Personality disorders are included as mental disorders on Axis II of the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association and in the mental and behavioral disorders section of the ICD manual of the World Health Organization Personality disorders are conditions in which an individual differs significantly from an average person, in terms of how they think, perceive, feel or relate to others. Changes in how a person feels and distorted beliefs about other people can lead to odd behavior, which can be distressing and may upset others There are three recognized personality disorder clusters, cluster A odd and eccentric, Paranoid Personality Disorder Schizoid Personality Disorder Schizotypal Personality Disorder dramatic and emotional, Borderline Personality Disorder Histrionic Personality Disorder Narcissistic Personality Disorder and anxious and fearful Avoidant Personality Disorder Dependent Personality Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Personality Disorders: Management

What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental disorder where someone has an exaggerated sense of their own presence, a need for constant admiration from others and they also have a lack of empathy for anyone (Mayo Clinic). A couple questions I have include: How does social media effect society? How does social media have an effect on someone diagnosed with NPD, What are ways you can help someone with NPD, and what are some ways we can conclude that someone may have NPD on social networking sites? Social media is what’s hot right now and someone diagnosed with NPD will only get wrapped up in its web and will be negatively impacted by it. The main focus of my research to further my knowledge includes: The risk factors social media have on someone diagnosed with NPD, signs on social media of someone who may have NPD, and so on.

Childhood illness or separation anxiety disorder of childhood may be a premorbid condition to DPD. Some experts believe that events occurring in early childhood exert a powerful influence upon behavior later in life. Others indicate that people are genetically predisposed to personality disorders. In some cases, however, environmental factors may cause a person who is already genetically vulnerable to develop a personality disorder (National Mental Health Association).

Everyone is born with a natural sense of pride and self-importance. According to Sanderson (2015), pride can be defined as, “A pleasant, sometimes exhilarating, emotion that results from a positive self-evaluation” (p. 35). Judging by that definition, pride seems as though it is a positive emotion that helps to build confidence and self-worth. However, pride can also be a very dangerous feeling that could possibly lead to a very unfortunate and incurable mental illness, known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This disorder, otherwise known as, NPD, is a personality trait that reflects an inflated and grandiose self-concept (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008). Basically, someone with this disorder thinks very highly of himself or herself, which typically results in a lack of empathy for others. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the preferred treatment for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) because specific biomedical approaches for this illness do not exist, and leaving it untreated could lead to other psychological problems for the individual, such as, depression, antisocial personality disorder, and drug/alcohol abuse.

The diagnostic process for personality disorders currently covers a broad scope of various tests and symptoms, causing a source of frustration for psychiatrists (Aldhous). The symptoms and side effects of several personality disorders can tend to blur together, making diagnosis challenging (Aldhous). Most psychiatric patients are diagnosed with several personality disorders at once, with twenty percent of people with personality disorders simply diagnosed with a “personality disorder not otherwise specified” (Aldhous). Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, commonly referred to as the DSM, psychiatrists attempt with great difficulty to categorize their patients into a specific disorder, only to diagnose

With BPD there are often extremes in beliefs and views, such as all good or all bad. People with BPD are can be uncertain about whom they truly are as a person. With no self sense, interests and values may conflict as well as change rapidly. Their views of others may also change quickly. One day a certain person may be admired. The next day that same person may be despised or hated. Suddenly shifting feelings often foster relationships that are unstable and intense. There are numerous other identifiable traits someone with BPD may display. Some of these symptoms may include fear abandonment, feelings of emptiness and boredom, frequent displays of inappropriate anger, destructive impulsiveness, intolerance of being alone, as well as repeated self crises (i.e. self injury).

NPD sufferers also lack empathy towards others (Psych Central Staff). Some of the symptoms of NPD include, being preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love. Some other symptoms are that they lack empathy, require excessive admiration, are envious of others, and regularly show arrogant or

It is hard and uncommon for someone to be diagnosed with NPD because when someone has narcissistic personality disorder, they may not want to think that anything could be wrong, doing so wouldn't fit with their self-image of power and perfection (American Psychiatric Association; 2013). Some psychologists say narcissism can be diagnosed by asking one question: “are you a Narcissist?” This is because some believe that if a person is narcissistic, then they will have no problem saying so because they are unable to see any flaws in themselves. People who are willing to admit that they are narcissistic are actually more narcissistic then others. Treatment of narcissistic personality disorder typically involves long-term psychotherapy with a therapist

An article published by the American Psychological Association, titled, The Histrionic Prototype, states “individuals with HPD maintain a relative balance on enhancement and preservation that reflects their need for attention and approval” (Rasmussen, 2005). In addition, they are

40. Kohut refers to narcissism - persons deal with objects as if objects were part of self and that objects performs critical functions for the self