Can someone tell me what narcissism is? I'm looking for an answer "deeper" than self-love.

-- justwonderin' (idiot@$9.99video.com), December 17, 1999

Answers

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6297/msla.html Could someone hotlink this please?

-- Narcy (weloveu@image.com), December 17, 1999.

justwondering,a facet of narcissism is what you just did, posting on an open forum. It doesn't have to be only about self-love, it can also be in establishing/fortifying self-worth, or seeking to help others. (Dang! did I just do this?!)

-- Me Too (guilty@charged.com), December 17, 1999.

It is equivalent to self-absorption or meditation on (the small) self. We all know the type. It's actually a painful condition since the reality is that we are not individual vessels on an isolating sea--but are part and parcel of a unitary whole. The narcissist is crowded into his/her own skin without the ability to reach out and gain new insights and fresh energy while at the same time releasing his/her own ferment. (When done regularly, the release of our brew, called sharing, benefits all parties to the activity; when done periodically, as in `dumping' or `venting,' it's a negative.)

Narcissism is a term for a pathology, an extreme.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 17, 1999.

Narcisist--as a personality disorder, is a condition concidered to developed in the first 2 years of life or begin to show itself at that time. It is one of those conditions that is suspected to be both inherited and/or cultivated by life experiences. This person struggles mightly with the need to be recognized for his/her specialness. This person seeks power, fame and riches. This person does not comprehend why people cannot understand their special needs, has very stormy relationships. People with Narcisist personality disorder who are concidered "high level" are found in every profession and notably in medical, legal, political, public life and entertainment, they seek the limelight. When in a conflict with person with a Narcessistic personality disorder they will most likely discount you and what you say. There is another form of Narcissism which is hidden and very tricky to identify, however their manner in dealing with others is pretty much the same when closely observed. The underbelly of Narcisism is terror---without someone to see and applaud them they fear they don't exist. Failure is felt at distruction of themselves. It is not a happy state of affairs to be have this form of relating to others. It can be excruciatingly painful for them and one giant pain for those that love them.

-- hmmmmmmm (lurking@thinking.com), December 17, 1999.

A narcissist believes in every fiber of their being that they are, naturally and by right, the center of anything they come into contact with. It is painful to them to find that so many others do not SEE this with the same force and clarity that they do.

Others, sadly, are always trying to thrust themselves into the narcissist's central position, requiring them to fight for their rights. This is, in their view, an imposition, an impertinence. Those who contest with them for the central position ar made to pay for their presumption.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), December 17, 1999.