Chapter 2 Narcissism

from the book "RootEd: How Trauma Impacts Learning and Society" by S.R. Zelenz

Of all of the things humankind can spend their life energy on,

Narcissism is the largest waste. 

Yet entire generations and societies have been enslaved to it for centuries….

Narcissism Defined

The American Psychiatric Association defines Narcissistic Personality Disorder in their Diagnostic Manual IV as characterized by a “pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy” (APA, 2013, p. 174). Recent debate by the American Psychiatric Association has been whether it should be continued to be included in further diagnostic manuals due to the pervasiveness of the behaviors within other personality disorders (APA, 2013, p. 67). Another key factor is that narcissism is found in the entire population in varying degrees. In essence, it is a fundamental core trait required for survival. The disorder occurs when it is kept at a rudim…