Narcissism Reconsidered

Narcissism may be understood as a vulnerability of a sense of self as much as grandiose self-love. The development of self-esteem is a feature of human development. According to Kohut&s;s self-psychology model, narcissistic psychopathology is a result of parental lack of empathy during development. Consequently, the individual does not develop full capacity to regulate self-esteem. The narcissistic adult vacillates between an irrational overestimation of the self and irrational feelings of inferiority and relies on others to regulate his self-esteem and give him a sense of value. The need for empathic mirroring helps us understand cult behavior, religious, nationalistic, or partisan group identifications, and the appeal to the charismatic or authoritarian leader. Interlude: Call me Ishmael