Narcissism

No comment, just an excerpt:

Someone with Narcissistic Personality disorder (NPD) has at least 5 of these symptoms:

• has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
• is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
• believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
• requires excessive admiration
• has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
• is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
• lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
• is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
• shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

Associated Features: Depressed Mood, Dramatic or Erratic or Antisocial Personality
Differential Diagnosis. Some disorders have similar or even the same symptoms:
Histrionic Personality Disorder;
Antisocial Personality Disorder;
Borderline Personality Disorder;
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder;
Schizotypal Personality Disorder;
Paranoid Personality Disorder;
Manic Episodes;
Hypomanic Episodes;
Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition;
Symptoms that may develop in association with chronic substance use.

Psychology Today: A Field Guide To Narcissism Link

Here are some more signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder to look out for:

• Jealousy and possessiveness
• Excessive need to feel special, adored, loved, appreciated, or admired
• Rage attacks when you do not sufficiently meet his/her needs
• Controlling behaviors (trying to control how you spend your time, who you talk to, how you dress, etc.)
• Inflated self-esteem, or grandiosity (bragging, "fishing" for compliments)
• Dramatic, insecure behaviors
• Expecting you to take responsibility for making him/her feel better about him/herself
• Blaming you for behaviors or feelings (i.e., "YOU made me do this," or "YOU made me feel this way.")
• Not taking responsibility for angry behavior and justifying angry outbursts
• An attitude that demonstrates "the world revolves around me" and "you need to cater to my ideas, opinions, thoughts, and feelings."
• An unwillingness to reflect on his/her own behaviors
 

Quotes:

Fearful people are more dependent, more easily manipulated and controlled, more susceptible to deceptively simple, strong, tough measures and hard-line postures. ... They may accept and even welcome repression if it promises to relieve their insecurities.

George Gerber

Half the harm that is done in this world
Is due to people who want to feel important
They don't mean to do harm ­
But the harm does not interest them.
Or they do not see it, or they justify it
Because they are absorbed in the endless struggle
To think well of themselves.

T. S. Eliot

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Just a PS.  Today's Washington Post's "Faith" Section had an article suggesting we celebrate the Gore's are getting a divorce after forty years of marriage.  We blink during the Eve of Destruction.