What is narcissism?
Narcissism means self-love. The term comes from Narcissus, the youth in Greek myth who fell in love with his own reflection. In his 1914 essay *On Narcissism*, Sigmund Freud distinguished primary narcissism, an infant’s original investment of libido in the self, from secondary narcissism, in which love withdrawn from others is turned back onto the self.
- Origin
- Narcissus in Greek myth
- Key theorists
- Freud (1914); Kohut and Kernberg (1970s)
- Common measure
- Narcissistic Personality Inventory (Raskin & Hall, 1979)
- Clinical diagnosis
- Narcissistic personality disorder (DSM-5-TR)
Trait narcissism vs. the disorder
| Aspect | Trait narcissism | Narcissistic personality disorder |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | A dimension everyone has to some extent | A pervasive, inflexible pattern |
| Impact | Can coexist with confidence and ambition | Clear impairment at work and in relationships |
| Assessment | Self-report scales | Clinical evaluation by a professional |
DSM-5-TR describes the disorder as a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration and lack of empathy beginning by early adulthood, with at least five of nine criteria such as fantasies of unlimited success, a sense of entitlement, interpersonal exploitation, envy and arrogance.
Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism
Researchers often separate grandiose narcissism (overt confidence and dominance) from vulnerable or covert narcissism (outward shyness and hypersensitivity combined with a strong hidden need for recognition). See also self-esteem and defense mechanisms.
Common myths
- "Narcissism is just high self-esteem." Healthy self-esteem is fairly stable under criticism; pathological narcissism tends to depend on outside admiration.
- "Calling someone a narcissist is a diagnosis." Everyday use of the word is not a diagnosis; only a qualified professional can diagnose a personality disorder.
Frequently asked questions
- What is narcissism?
- Self-love or excessive self-focus, named after Narcissus in Greek mythology.
- Is every narcissistic person disordered?
- No. Narcissism is a common trait; it is diagnosed as a disorder only when it is pervasive, rigid and causes significant impairment.
References
- Freud, S. (1914). Zur Einführung des Narzißmus [On narcissism: An introduction]. Jahrbuch der Psychoanalyse, 6, 1–24.
- Raskin, R. N., & Hall, C. S. (1979). A narcissistic personality inventory. Psychological Reports, 45(2), 590.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). APA.