According to an article in Wikipedia, five or more of the following symptoms indicate you or your loved one may be at risk for narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)..
- Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
-Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
-Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
-Rarely acknowledges mistakes and/or imperfections
-Requires excessive admiration
-Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
-Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
-Lacks empathy: is unwilling or unable to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
-Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
-Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitude.
Studies show 1% of Americans suffer from NPD.
Personal research indicates rates among members of religious organizations may be slightly higher.
Once someone is diagnosed with NPD, what should you do?
The singer Rihanna offers one possible avenue:
"But you put on quite a show
Really had me going
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closing
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
Go on and take a bow
Grab your clothes and get gone"
Tempting.
But the fact is NPD sufferers are often the engines that drive things. We need them around. Sorry.
Confronting them isn't the best option either. They will shut down in humiliation or become enraged or both.
You have to maintain mission statements and goals and objectives and visit and revisit them often.
Open, honest, frequent evaluation.
Oh, and have yourself checked out with someone you trust.
The earlier you can diagnose NPD, the easier is is to cure.
2 comments:
Of course, this isn't me. I'm better than that. I've known I was special since elementary school. As I was working on a new book of the Bible the other night, I remember thinking to myself how fortunate the world is that I do what I do. Do you ever feel that way?
In all seriousness, I agree with your assessment. I think the tension between the poles of narcissism and humility keep us energized and moving.
If we got nothing out of our efforts, little would get done. And if it was only about us, we would soon discover no one gives a crap. Both render us ineffective. The tension between them is where the action is.
A paradox. God must be here somewhere.
Post a Comment