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Pathological Narcissism

What is Pathological Narcissism?

PATHOLOGICAL NARCISSISM is a term used to describe a shame-based expression of the trait that manifests as an addiction to external validation. It can also be characterized by oscillations between the grandiose and vulnerable states associated with this personality type. Over time the disruptions in emotional regulation can lead to diminished psychological well-being and interpersonal functioning. How does pathological narcissism…

The Narcissist’s False Self

THE FALSE SELF IS A FAKE PERSONA dysfunctional people invent as a psychological defense mechanism against re-living adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as traumatic stress. A child’s construction of a false self is an adaptive process. Children may develop it to cope with unmet needs, especially the absence of support the child requires to differentiate themselves from their caregivers. When…

The Narcissist’s Flying Monkeys

FLYING MONKEYS ARE ENABLERS who act on behalf of narcissists. They are usually friends and relatives who serve as surrogates, emissaries, fixers and drones in the narcissist’s network. Moreover, they make it possible for narcissists to carry out their campaigns of abuse by proxy. A person may rationalize playing the flying monkey role for a variety of reasons. Here are…

What is a Narcissistic Injury?

IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT the ability to experience genuine feelings of joy, love, or compassion.  It’s hardly a stretch to suggest that one’s internal ecosystem would be a bleak and desolate landscape. However, if you were to open up the mind of a pathological narcissist and look inside, what you would find is a psychological wasteland riddled with persecutory objects. The ambiguity of malignant…