There was once a man so impossibly handsome and so uncharacteristically charming that when he peered at his reflection in a body of water, he fell in love with his own appearance. Narcissus, as his name was, had been utterly entranced by the image he stumbled upon in the pool of water, so much so that he was unable to deter his gaze elsewhere and eventually died of thirst and starvation. His rotting corpse assured a sort of immortality when a flower, named after his being, grew right where he lay dormant for eternity.
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) bears the Greek man’s name and possesses a similar essence to its predecessor. Narcissism is a mental health condition that affects one’s perception of oneself and one’s relation to other individuals. This condition pushes the need to impress others or feel significant to extreme extents, which can be strong enough to promote harmful behaviors. Contrary to what most people believe, narcissistic personality disorder does not simply concern itself with physical appearances or images. This disorder can also involve many other important aspects of one’s existence, for instance, intelligence, power, success, artistic skills, athletic ability, etc.
On top of that, experts are not exactly certain how many people have narcissistic personality disorder. Acting narcissistic is, in fact, a part of the human condition. NPD is considered a disorder as it exudes comportment in the extremes, where the narcissistic symptoms are displayed and experienced much more intensely. In reality, narcissistic personality disorder is relatively rare and uncommon, and it affects around 0.5% to 1% of the general population. Some studies state that the prevalence of the condition is up to 6%, so one may deduce that the data on NDP is in a bit of a grey area.
The nine signs of narcissistic personality disorder may be summed up in the mnemonic device: “SPECIAL ME.” S for sense of self-importance. P stands for preoccupation with power, beauty, or success. E stands for entitled. C stands for can only be around people who are important or special. I stands for interpersonally exploitative for their own gain. A stands for arrogant. L stands for lack of empathy. M stands for must be admired. And finally, E stands for envious of others or belief that others are envious of them. All of these symptoms may or may not indicate that an individual has NPD. The way one can be diagnosed is through a structured interview with trained mental health professionals, where they learn about the patient’s behavioral patterns. If at least five SPECIAL ME signs are consistently shown, they meet the criteria for the condition.
How does one get narcissistic personality disorder? Doctors determined NPD is not transmitted genetically, as there is no gene for it, so no one is necessarily born with the irregularity. The environment is a major factor in the development of narcissistic personality disorder. Children fed comments such as how they deserve nothing but the best and how they are extraordinary at the expense of others could possibly develop NPD later in life. There is also such a thing as covert narcissism. Covert means “not openly exhibited,” so a covert narcissist is simply a quiet narcissist.
Additionally, narcissistic personality disorder can wreak havoc on a person's romantic relationships. Narcissists frequently use gaslighting, love bombing, and victimization to control others around them. In essence, gaslighting is when someone tries to persuade you of ideas that make you doubt your own sanity. Love bombing is excessive flattery, showering you with unnecessary gifts, and early, over-the-top talk about the future. It disguises insecurity and past emotional abuse.
In short, narcissistic personality disorder, named after Narcissus, is a condition that affects one’s perception of oneself along with one’s relation to other individuals. It is not genetically inherited but a product of one’s environment, and it can also cause problems when dating.
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