First a question to establish agreement of terms. What is narcissism?
Self absorption.
A condition in which someone exaggerates their own value, though I think underneath they are insecure.
It’s from Narcissus who starved from doing nothing but looking at his reflection in the water. They have actually established that an animal runs serious risk of that if they are given the ability to directly stimulate the pleasure centre of their brain, like with an electrode.
Maybe it’s looking at your self through a lens (camera) so you become an object.
So perhaps first a point of clarification, there is a difference between ego-centrism and narcissism. In the case of ego-centrism a person is absorbed in concerns for their own state of mind, their own point of view, and displays diminished ability to even comprehend let alone allow for and incorporate information that isn’t part of their own internal state. If they are angry and you tell them you are scared, they don’t devalue that. They don’t even recognize it’s meaning well enough to devalue it.
So no empathy? Lacking much empathy, yes. Empathy requiring first comprehension then willingness to respond.
Narcissism could be described as attachment to ones own self image which has little or nothing to do with their factual state of mind. It involves no habit of self reflection, say, often quite the opposite. It can lead to a strong tendency toward denial, at least of anything that runs contrary to their grandiose model of self.
Is that the case of the wicked queen in Snow White? Asking the mirror to make sure she is the fairest one? Yes, with the attending motivations and behaviour that came after, though most narcissists aren’t quite that extreme.
Murdering any one else more fair. I do wonder how the mirror knew. The mirror represented an old medium-ship practice. The mirror being the channel of an oracular spirit and not significant as being a mirror itself.
I tend to think the little compact mirrors that girls used to carry around have been replaced by Facebook.
Mirrors do tend to captivate people. Interestingly, they hold little interest for genuine narcissists. Feedback about their personal traits or performance is often readily ignored. They practice a sort of selective perception which strangely often leads to genuine success in some special area. Current corporate leaders are notorious for their narcissistic tendencies. It’s what they are perhaps most often treated for when they seek therapy.
And city mayors. Indeed. He astounded me with how oblivious he is. He is a slovenly drunken idiot, but that doesn’t matter. Everyone should just naturally see him as the perfect mayor material.
I feel sad for him. He doesn’t feel sad for himself. He might recover some if he were to allow himself to feel that way. It would be a step closer to objectivity. Only lesser or lessened people can feel sad. It would be an eye opener for him to feel guilt over any of his actions. Embezzlement is one of the issues hanging over his head.
Does a narcissist not care what others think as they are oblivious to it? A narcissist cares for one thing, the fairy story about their favourite protagonist and heaven forbid anyone mess up the story. For them, the fantasy they are living, and that they will deny has any element of delusion, is of vital importance. It is the only way their world can be right. This is why corporate leader types are so often notorious control freaks, even if one of their employees is much better suited to take control of a particular project.
I think of celebrity chefs who blow up because someone didn’t cut the carrots the right way. Indeed, that would be an example. This is why reality TV can be so entertaining. it is more accurately described as narcissist TV, and narcissists are often notably charismatic, at least off and on.
What does it say when you can’t stomach reality TV? Self esteem issues, maybe coupled with better taste in TV than average.
They need charisma for a good story.
Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.
Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~