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| Sam Klein Von ReichePhoto Credit: Wordpress.com |
Narcissism may be mistaken for vanity, but psychologists know better. Dr. Klein Von Reiche, a clinical psychologist practicing in Manhattan, says that in extreme cases, narcissism may be aptly described as “voracious.”
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| Sam Klein Von ReichePhoto Credit: andreajlee.com |
Narcissism in psychology is defined by Oxford dictionaries as “extreme selfishness” characterized by “a grandiose view of one’s own talents and a craving for admiration.” Coined in the late 19th century, the term came from Narcissus, the name of the youth in Greek mythology that fell in love with his own reflection. The disorder causes a person to have an augmented sense of self-importance, usually exceeding his actual personal achievements, as well as to have the tendency to exploit and take other people for granted.
Dr. Klein Von Reiche says that one of the possible outcomes of extreme narcissism is the belief that the use of cruelty is an acceptable means to resolve conflict. She stated this as a possible explanation for why a 33-year old woman admitted in October to bullying a seven-year old girl suffering from Huntington’s disease. This may have been an example of an extreme narcissist with antisocial tendencies.
Narcissism is also a threat even to the person with the disorder. A possible example may have been the case of the 28-year-old woman who admitted to exposing her own face to acid and subjecting herself to permanent disfigurement. She initially claimed having been attacked by a black stranger but later retracted her statement. Among the probable explanations was that the woman sought attention at the cost of harming herself. "We shouldn't minimize the fact that she got enormous notoriety from this,” Klein Von Reiche said.
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| Sam Klein Von ReichePhoto Credit: wordpress.com |
For more information about narcissism and other psychological disorders, visit www.drsamvonreiche.com.
