Just about everyone knows someone that they can classify as a narcissist, but very few of these people will actually be clinically identified as someone with narcissistic personality disorder. The disorder involving the narcissistic personality includes these types of individuals that present in a clinically extreme manner in what is commonly and colloquially referred to as a God complex.
These individuals exhibit as defined by the DSM IV:
“a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others”.
The type of narcissism that is required for a clinical diagnosis of NPD occurs at the pathological level and is considered high on the spectrum of narcissistic severity. Oddly enough, this disorder often results from the thought process that the individual is flawed in some manner that makes them unacceptable to others.
Key Characteristics of the Narcissistic Personality
The NPD is one that is continuously aware of what others think of them, or creates perceptions based on this belief. This person is on a constant mission to deny rejection or isolation, and thus use a grandiose image of themselves to convey their esteem and delusions to the world.
Because this grandiose perception actually stems from extreme low self esteem, this is a disorder that is extremely isolating to the sufferer. It is painful and disenfranchising and it often results in a series of relationships that can not be maintained or sustained.
In order to sustain their relationships, the narcissistic personality will be controlling, manipulative, and blame others in their primary relationships frequently for petty problems.
DSM IV Criteria for NPD
Narcissistic Personality Disorder falls on Axis II and the Cluster B of the DSM IV personality disorders. As mentioned, the DSM IV classifies the NPD as: A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for
admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by
five (or more) of the following:
- Grandiose delusions of exaggerated self importance, exaggerates talents and achievements with the expectation that they are considered as superior or authorities on any subject
- Preoccupation with fantasies involving power, success, love, and brilliance
- Believes that they are unique and special and are only understood by people or institutions considered to be high in status
- Excessive admiration is required
- Unable to exhibit empathy or to identify and recognize needs and feelings of others
- nvious of those in high power or status positions, but also believes those people are envious of themselves
- Often described as arrogant, haughty, or over confident
- Must satisfy the set of general personality disorder criterion
American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Cooper AM: Narcissism in normal development, in Character Pathology. Edited by Zales M. New York, Brunner/Mazel, 1984, pp. 39-56.
