Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder defined by theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-R), the diagnostic classification system used in the United States, as “a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. The narcissist is thought to lack proper (external) ego functioning. Narcissistic personality disorder and its derivatives can be caused by excessive praise and criticism in childhood, particularly that from parental figures. Narcissistic personality disorder is frequently mistaken for self-centeredness.
Symptoms
A person with narcissistic personality disorder may:
- React to criticism with rage, shame, or humiliation
- Take advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals
- Have excessive feelings of self-importance
- Exaggerate achievements and talents
- Be preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence, or ideal love
- Have unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment
- Need constant attention and admiration
- Disregard the feelings of others, and have little ability to feel empathy
- Have obsessive self-interest
- Pursue mainly selfish goals