Narcissism: The truth does hurt!
All of this is based on my Personal experiences with past family members, so please don't suffer the way I had to, but being me I stud8ed afterwards, to get some answers; and here you go:
Is narcissism a psychological issue, or merely a character trait?
Technically it's both pathological and phsycological.
Narcissists are pathological liars, meaning a person who lies compulsively, and habitually. They have no empathy and effectely live in a fictional world. They are never happy, they will manipulate others, who they see as "their fuel" to gain attention and control, or protect their own self invented image. They do not have morals and thrive purely on their own self created image, they are not to believed, nor trusted, otherwise you can become the innocent victim of their negative personality, which can lead to violent attacks if you try to argue back. So oversall, this is predominately a character trait, and is sometimes inherited, or caused by one, or both, parents, however that is not always easily seen by younger generations.
Definition and Characteristics
Simply put, a narcissistic person effectively believes that they are in control of you, and your job is to polish their halo, whether you like that or not, and will think that inventing lies about you, to put you down is perfectly ok, which in turn will make them appear to be the victim. So never believe nor trust them. Today's world appears to be full of character attacks, carried out by people who themselves display the characteristics of being narcissistic. I believe everyone needs to learn the truth and stop assuming. With this page I aim to challenge conventional wisdom and invite you to think critically about the nature of narcissism. It's far nore than just a name. You cannot simply walk away from these people because they will always promise you that they love and miss you, so that you believe them, and you will suffer all over again.
To escape you must be very strong mentally, and learn to say things like: "that may be your opinion, but that doesn't make it fact" when they are telling you what to do, or not to do. You must understand that in their mind, you were put on earth to worship them, so another old saying, which is worth remembering, is a good saying: "fools rush in, where angels fear to tread", so if you find you have suspicions, then trust your suspicions, of course you will hear every word of 'sweet talk' from them, every promise like 'I'll change', until they feel that they have hooked you back in again!
Don't think you can easily walk away from them. In their mind they own you!
Unpacking the definition
The term 'narcissism' appears to be freely used, almost in a 'name calling' way, but it's very often misunderstood, it actually creates a more intruiging question in my mind: Is it a character trait? A clinical diagnosis. A a spectrum disorder? or simply a descriptor for self-centred behaviour?
Initially they will promise you the earth, moon, and stars, to attract you in. However think of it like this: a fish first gets hooked and reeled in, before it's gutted!
Another one is Narcissistic phsycopathy which is very real, however I don't hear the 'experts' shouting about that one 🙄. By exploring phsycology, the nuances, and asking thoughtful questions you can learn a true, much deeper understanding, instead of Assuming that it's just a current trend.
Dive into the origins and modern interpretations of these complex human characteristics, before thinking you're being cool.
Nature versus nurture: the inheritance question
A fundamental question in understanding narcissism is whether it is hereditary.
Do narcissits inherit narcissistic tendencies? or are those tendencies developed through upbringing and environment?
Examining both genetic predispositions and learned behaviours, should lead you to a greater understanding of the multifaceted influences at play with these conditions. Thankfully, there is no App!
Beyond the surface: where does the term originate?
To truly grasp the concept of narcissism, it's essential to understand its etymological and mythological roots. I invite you to explore the fascinating story of Narcissus from Greek mythology and trace how this ancient narrative has shaped our modern psychological understanding, long before you go 'crying over your spilt milk' as the old saying states. Be inquisitive and you'll find that you're not in a 'them or us' fight.