Selfsatisfaction is merely narcissism under a different name...which, would make us *all* "sick". With such a percentage, perhaps then, higher thought is illusion, and there are no secondary psychopathies. I ask you, what's the difference between a disease everyone has, and something that's not a disease?
Non-narcissists "love" according to personal approval of object behavior. Narcissists just don't "love". That's based on *our* reflection and study; a primitive human being is still a human being. Did Pavlov "love" his dog? His tests could not have been performed, by that fact.
No one is more evolved, on the conscious or unconscious level...but it does help others sleep, I guess...
CEEof IL2:55PM June 26, 2009
Three of these comments were made by narcissists. One was made by an enabler. The rest made comments that were a result of reflection and study. So what percentage of these respondents are not enmeshed in the disease? (easy math)
Do you know which category you fall in?
joof IN10:21PM June 25, 2009
You're assuming Love has value.
You're assuming Life has value.
You're assuming others have rights,
And you're assuming the social treaty is to be honored a priori and by rote.
If all that is so...then, yes.
Being a narcissist myself, however, I deny that that is so.
BTW, I'm married almost ten years. She thinks I'm God. She's right.
CEEof IL8:29PM June 21, 2009
It is a destructive, diabolical cancer. Narcissists destroy other "N" on their foreheads so we can identify and avoid them.
amwhof OH9:46PM May 27, 2009
US surely is one. It fits all the criteria. China is equally powerful but isn't like US.
Ambof CA8:39PM April 24, 2009
"data" is the plural form of the singular "datum." Therefore, "the data don't back it up," is correct usage. Other examples would be:
"The men don't back it up" --plural
"The man doesn't back it up" --singular
Bryon Scottof CA5:13PM April 24, 2009
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is not the root cause of America's decline, but it is a symptom of our current economic, socio-political crisis. It contributed greatly to the sub-prime, credit, liquidity, banking crisis today. NPD is the engine that drives television programming and advertising. It is at the root of the country's divorce rate. NPD causes widespread depression (SSRIs or antidepressants are the most widely prescribed drugs in this country) and may contribute to our alarming suicide rates.
We are a nation infatuated with celebrity. We worship celebrities. Our most popular TV show is "American Idol," as in "Idol Worship." And yet, once the media become bored by objectifying a certain "star" or "inadvertent celebrity," they go about destroying them publicly. NPD is at the root of this destructive collective behavior.
America used to be a nation of shared sacrifice, as witnessed in the Second World War. We used to have a military draft to share the obligation of service to our country. This is no longer the case. Children are allowed to focus solely on their own sense of self-entitlement. Parents are breeding a nation of sociopaths, those who have no empathy for other human beings. NPD is as non-sustainable as an economy that is based 70 percent on consumer spending; as non-sustainable as a carbon-based energy system (Global Climate Change); as non-sustainable as a federal treasury that is about two years away from defaulting on its obligations. Is there a cure? Sure, after you finish reading this, why don't you go out an voluntarily give your time, your money, your energy to helping someone less fortunate than yourself. Your efforts might help to counterbalance the obscenity of this national epidemic of narcissists.
C. Marcus Parrof OR12:14PM April 24, 2009
My galpal is the most narcisistic person I've ever known in my life - bar none. She adores herself in any window pane, brags about how darn smart she is all the time, always insists she is right, and says she's always approached by guys half her age every day. The purpose is not to make me jealous or for me to feel inferior, because she doesn't care. Her self-adoration only seems to benefit her and makes her feel good because she needs to feel better than others in order to feel good about herself. I think that's the bottom line, which could be a combination of genetic personality propensities interacting with circumstantial environmental stimuli altering perceptual reality and internal self-actualization mechanisms. I just laugh it off because if I let it bother me, then that would make me an insecure person whose self-image needs a pep talk. I'm more of a realist pragmatist, so it doesn't bother me that people are different and love themselves more than anyone in the whole wide world. Good for them - I just won't bother to ask them for any favors, hahaha.
Tony Leeof CA7:45PM April 23, 2009
"But the data don't back it up." I'm nearly certain the word is "doesn't."
Whois Proofingof CA6:03PM April 23, 2009
My husband and his daughter (my step daughter, 15 years old) seem to have these symptoms down to a tee, and it has been breaking me down at a steady pace for a few years now. I am the brunt of their attacks, and it doesn't matter how many good things I do for them both, or make life better for them, in the end I am a horrible monster when I share my hurt feelings about how they treat me. It would be one thing if it was either my husband OR his daughter, but they both display this behavior, leaving me the outsider most of the time. He pampers, overindulges, and takes her side when she is horrible towards me. It has got to the point, I can not stand her anymore, and I am not feeling my marriage will ever be a success because she keeps suggesting her dad leave me, and he shouts horrible things to me and about me right in front of her. It's as if he wants to show off in front of her that he can belittle me, and they are the best of "buds". To any one else going through this, step up to the problem right away before your own self esteem is so torn up you can not make a move at all, like a deer in the headlights, shocked, blown away, and so destroyed it makes you want to curl up and die.
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CEE of IL 2:55PM June 26, 2009
jo of IN 10:21PM June 25, 2009
CEE of IL 8:29PM June 21, 2009
amwh of OH 9:46PM May 27, 2009
Amb of CA 8:39PM April 24, 2009
Bryon Scott of CA 5:13PM April 24, 2009
C. Marcus Parr of OR 12:14PM April 24, 2009
Tony Lee of CA 7:45PM April 23, 2009
Whois Proofing of CA 6:03PM April 23, 2009
Pam Huges of CA 11:19AM April 23, 2009