Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Your Practice

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#333333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="03cdedc2ddualp.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dr. Wade Silverman, Ph.D"><U><B>Dr. Wade Silverman, Ph.D</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FAQs"><U><B>FAQs</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Dr. Silverman"><U><B>About Dr. Silverman</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Great links"><U><B>Great links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Mind Reader© archive"><U><B>The Mind Reader© archive</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="03d64643.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#666633" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Dr. Wade Silverman, Ph.D</B></FONT>    |     <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dr. Wade Silverman, Ph.D"><U>home</U></A></FONT></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Your Practice</div> <bR> <div> In our continuing look at the Personality Disorders we will now focus on the Narcissistic Personality Disorder. You might interact with this individual as either a client or colleague. He/she will exhibit a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, lack of empathy, and an inordinate need for admiration. This pattern is manifested in at least five of the following characteristics:</div> <div> (1) An inordinate sense of self-importance; (2) Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, intelligence, etc.; (3) Believes in his/her uniqueness or specialness; (4) Needs excessive admiration; (5) Has a sense of entitlement; (6) Is exploitative of others; (7) Lacks empathy; (8) Is either envious of others or believe others are envious of him/her; (9) Displays arrogance.</div> <div> Those of you who have followed the trials and tribulations of O.J. Simpson might conclude that he is a narcissistic personality. In a recent article in Esquire he said, "Let's say I committed this crime. Even if I did do this, it would have to have been because I loved her very much, right?" This one statement contains, or at least implies, that O.J. manifests 7 of the 9 aspects of Narcissism. Can you name them? </div> <div> The typical response of someone who interacts with this kind of individual is either a jaw dropping incredulouseness or extreme anger. Remember, however, that these people actually believe what they are saying. Their orientation masks feelings of inferiority. If you can avoid reacting emotionally to overblown rhetoric and arrogant attitudes, you can successfully interact with this client. As long as you concentrate on the issues at hand you will not be caught in the client's self-delusions. These clients are easily coopted by compliments and flattery, and like most clients, will ultimately focus on the merits of their case. </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>