Humans differ in many aspects. We have unique facial features, height, weight, and everything else. You and I may even belong to different cultures, yet we got 24 ribs. There are many other similarities, yet we can also find many differences such as our personalities. Why?
Concept Of Narcissism
Our personalities are a reflection of our experiences. And, just like no two people can have the same face until the ‘Doppelganger concept’ is true, personalities vary from person to person. You might be a reserved person, while your friend could be the self-centered one. Amid these classifications of human personality, Havelock Ellis, in 1898, introduced the concept of Narcissism. For example, due to experiencing a self-centered person, you must have heard them or someone else like this say:
*”I know it all. Your view isn’t important.”
*”You must follow me if you want to do it right.”
*”Your constructive criticism doesn’t say anything about me because it’s a reflect your stupidness.”
And, the list goes on.
More Symptoms Of Narcissism
The following symptoms of narcissism will help you to also identify someone from your peers who may be overly obsessed with themselves:
Always Up For Scrutiny
A person with a narcissistic personality is excessively judgemental of others. They are always ready to scrutinize your actions, behavior, and beliefs. They believe everyone needs correction except them.
No Criticisms Allowed
Have you ever come across someone who ignores or silences you whenever you try to have a different view than their beliefs and actions? If it happens too often, it means they may be an example of a narcissist. The absolute rejection of any mild criticism puts them into the “’I am always correct” mode.
Gaslighting To Win!
A person with narcissism may have an uncontrollable urge to gaslight his or her peers for their personal benefit. This is exploitation of others happens via a tricky kind of manipulation per the narcissist’s words and/or conversational style with others. Thus, during interactions, the narcissist becomes the one who is right over the other person who then questions their thinking about what is true reality.
Need To Satisfy Their Ego
“I am the best” is another example of someone who may have narcissistic traits such as an arrogant, selfish attitude. A narcissist person craves and perceives himself as the embodiment of perfection.
Risk Taker
While having confidence is not bad, a narcissist isn’t scared of risks, e.g., being too verbose, talking loud or rudely, not considering others’ feelings, etc. However, their overconfidence–to be a risk taker–can put them in a position of facing many negative consequences, e.g., others get angry at them, others don’t want to be around them, no healthy self-learning or change in their behavior happens, etc. So, then, what causes narcissism?
What Causes Narcissism?
Humans often have a desire for power, and it sometimes takes over their rational sense, i.e., development of the narcissist. It almost becomes impossible to contradict their beliefs as they live in a world of make-believe where no one but them is right, true, and the best.
Apart from power, life experience also shapes a person’s personality. If we say a person is “so full of himself”, it could mean two different things: 1) overconfidence, and 2) having no confidence.
We can come to understand the cause of narcissism by looking at a person’s childhood. Pampered children who get excessive love, care, and attention may develop this absolute and/or self-obsessed personality of narcissism.
However, what if a child did not receive enough love and attention from their parents? Lack of love or neglect of a child shapes their mindset–to be of survival–where they compensate for this by becoming strongly self-reliant, i.e., the narcissist.
Dealing With Narcissism
There can be many reasons why a person behaves the way they do. And changing a personality is not like changing habits. Our personality is part of who we are; without it, we may put a question mark on our existence. Nevertheless, if you or someone close to you shows Narcissistic traits, Divine Life Therapy (The Home of Gnostic Pneumatherapy) can help–respectfully–per its psycho-spiritual therapy counseling and/or path work methods.
