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PTypes - Personality Types |
Neurotic Solution: Narcissistic Type
The strategy of the Narcissistic solution can be interpreted from the discussion by
John M.Oldham and Lois B. Morris of the Self-Confident personality style.
Narcissistic
Personality Disorder
Self-Confident Personality
Type
Expansive
Solution
Neurotic Needs
Compulsive Attachments
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Compulsive Aversions
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being admired
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aggrandizement
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being special
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being unique
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status
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superior image
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superiority
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special favors
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favorable treatment
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prestige
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dispensations
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privileges
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prerogatives
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acknowledgment of superiority by others
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being above the rules
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glory
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wealth
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position
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power
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success
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ambition
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competitiveness
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being scorned
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being criticized
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being seen as common
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being ordinary
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being seen as inferior
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failure
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others not according them admiration and respect
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Neurotic Solution
American Psychiatric Association (1994, pg. 661)
Grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of
empathy.
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has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements
and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate
achievements);
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is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance,
beauty, or ideal love;
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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);
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requires excessive admiration;
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has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of
especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or
her expectations;
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is interpersonally exploitive, i.e., takes advantage of others
to achieve his or her own ends;
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lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the
feelings and needs of others;
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is often envious of others or believes that others are
envious of him or her;
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shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
Neurotic Beliefs and Attitudes
Rationalizations and reinforcements of the compulsive attachments and aversions and the neurotic solution that they engender.
Aaron T. Beck, Arthur M. Freeman and associates (pp. 361-62)
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I am a very special person.
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Since I am so superior, I am entitled to special treatment and
privileges.
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I don't have to be bound by the rules that apply to other people.
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It is very important to get recognition, praise, and admiration.
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If others don't respect my status, they should be punished.
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Other people should satisfy my needs.
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Other people should recognize how special I am.
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It's intolerable if I'm not accorded my due respect or don't
get what I'm entitled to.
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Other people don't deserve the admiration or riches that
they get.
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People have no right to criticize me.
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No one's needs should interfere with my own.
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Since I am so talented, people should go out of
their way to promote my career.
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Only people as brilliant as I am understand me.
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I have every reason to expect grand
things.
Idealized Image
The particular "solution" is idealized (Horney,
1950, pg. 22)
John M.Oldham and Lois B. Morris (pp. 85-86):
Self-Confident individuals stand out. They're
the leaders, the shining lights, the attention-getters in their public or
private spheres. Theirs is a star quality born of self-regard, self-respect,
self-certainty -- all those self words that denote a faith in oneself and a
commitment to one's self-styled purpose. Combined with the ambition that
marks this style, that magical self-regard can transform idle dreams into
real accomplishment. The Self-Confident personality style is one of the two
most goal-directed of all fourteen (the other is the Aggressive style).
Self-Confident men and women know what they want, and they get it. Many of
them have the charisma to attract plenty of others to their goals. They are
extroverted and intensely political. They know how to work the crowd, how to
motivate it, and how to lead it. Hitch on to their bandwagons, and you'll be
rewarded. The Self-Confident style adds go-getting power to other
personality styles. For example, it counteracts the Conscientious person's
tendency to get sidetracked by details, and it fuels the Adventurous
person's great feats of daring. It propels any persoanlity pattern into the
realm of success. Indeed, the Self-Confident style confers an ability to be
successful more than any but the Aggressive personality style.
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Self-regard. Self-Confident individuals believe in
themselves and in their abilities. They have no doubt that they are unique
and special and that there is a reason for their being on this planet.
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The red carpet. They expect others to treat them well at
all times.
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Ambition. Self-Confident people are unabashedly open
about their aspirations and possibilities.
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Politics. They are able to take advantage of the
strengths and abilities of other people in order to achieve their
goals, and they are shrewd in their dealings with others.
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Competition. They are able competitors, they love
getting to the top, and they enjoy staying there.
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Stature. They identify with people of high rank
and status.
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Dreams. Self-Confident individuals are able to
visualize themselves as the hero, the star, the best in their
role, or the most accomplished in their field.
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Self-awareness. These individuals have a keen
awareness of their thoughts and feelings and their overall
inner state of being.
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Poise. People with the Self-Confident
personality style accept compliments, praise, and
admiration gracefully and with self-possession.
Attributes of the Idealized Image
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Self-regard, self-respect, self-confidence, self-sufficiency,
self-reliance, self-belief.
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Self-love, self-esteem, dignity.
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Ambition, aspiration.
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Political prudence, artful management, sagacity, shrewdness,
suavity, smoothness, urbanity, diplomacy.
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Competitiveness, stamina, resilience.
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Magnificence, high-mindedness, stature.
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Purposefulness, imagination.
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Self-awareness, truthfulness.
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Poise, self-possession, self-assurance, self-command,
aplomb.
Neurotic Pride
Neurotic Claims
Neurotic Search for Glory
The neurotic search for glory is the comprehensive drive to actualize
the idealized self. Besides self-idealization it consists of the need for
perfection, neurotic ambition, and the drive for vindictive triumph. The
need for perfection functions in the personality as, what Horney
called, "tyrannical shoulds."
Tyrannical Shoulds
Self-Hate
References
American Psychiatric Association
(1994).
Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
DSM-IV . 4th ed. Washington: Author.
American Psychiatric Association
(2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR . 4th ed., text revision. Washington: Author.
Aaron T. Beck, Arthur M. Freeman and Associates (1990).
Cognitive
Therapy of Personality
Disorders .
New York: Guilford Press.
Terry D. Cooper (2003).
Sin,
Pride, and Self-Acceptance: The Problem of Identity in Theology
and Psychology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Karen Horney (1950).
Neurosis
and Human Growth. New York: W. W. Norton.
John M.Oldham and Lois B. Morris (1995).
The New Personality Self-Portrait . Rev. ed. New York: Bantam.
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