Narcissism: pathology or social phenomenon?

2024-03-31 02:31:56
Narcissus is a character from Greek mythology. He was so beautiful that he fell in love with himself when he saw his reflection in the water, which caused his death. The modern concept of narcissism derives from this myth. Narcissistic people are those who have an exaggerated sense of their importance. They demand continuous attention and admiration; Their capacity for empathy is diminished. Diagnosis: pathological narcissism At a popular level, narcissism is spoken of to describe excessive vanity and the urgent need to show a positive personal image. This way of being can transform into a pattern of grandiosity, that is, when overestimation of one’s own abilities, exaggeration of achievements, and obsession with achieving goals interfere with adequate adaptation to the environment. In that case, narcissism is pathological. We can find this characteristic alone or in relation to two other psychological traits of special importance in the field of social relationships: the so-called ‘dark triad’. It is a set of psychopathic, narcissistic and Machiavellian characteristics that, without being considered pathological, color the personality of certain individuals. There are interesting studies that link sexist violence with this type of personality. Do we live in a narcissistic society? Nowadays, social networks have become almost the main mode of social relationship. There is a pressure to offer a perfect image, approved and admired by others, something that goes beyond mere vanity. From this point of view, narcissism emerges more as a social phenomenon than as a personality trait. The problem arises when the desire for recognition and validation becomes the objective to be achieved, not a means. If this effort conditions the other spheres of the person to the point of leading them to perform maladaptive behaviors, it ends up being a disorder. Then, the most superficial relationships acquire exaggerated importance. The fear of being ignored and of cancellation condition emotional well-being. Social image has become such a transcendental factor that it is the basis of numerous behaviors, and even in the transformation of prosocial values. Even bullying can have a narcissistic basis. Narcissism goes to the office There is no doubt that pathological narcissism is harmful to human relationships. Scientific evidence corroborates that high levels of these traits generate toxic environments, characterized by a lack of empathy, manipulation, and even aggression. It is not possible to point out specific jobs in which narcissistic personalities have a greater presence. What we can affirm is that the traits typical of these individuals, such as the search for power and the need for admiration, are highly valued in certain work environments. There we have, for example, professions facing the public, which need to cultivate a positive image. New jobs appear, such as influencers, who are dedicated to advising us to improve what we show to others. Computer filters manipulate that image until reality is distorted. The more exposure, the more one works on one’s self-image, giving more strength to the social sense of narcissism. However, between socially valued narcissistic traits and pathological ones there is an important distance. We will only consider it a disorder when the personal and emotional dysfunctions are clear and need a clinical approach. An obsessive search for approval In short, today’s society cannot be understood without the desire to share all vital spheres in search of approval, both in person and in the virtual environment. Desktop Code Image for mobile, amp and app Mobile Code AMP Code APP Code However, trying to put a label on the ways of showing yourself to others may not be the best strategy to understand current socialization. The digital context crosses borders and provides such a large audience for our actions that it is difficult to cover all its psychological and social repercussions. Narcissism becomes an attitude, but it is also a social tool. Like everything, perhaps virtue lies in balance. This article was originally published on The Conversation. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Agustina María Vinagre González and Juan Enrique Soto Castro Academic Coordinator of the MU in Victimology and Applied Criminology, UNIR – International University of La Rioja. Academic Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Criminal Investigation, UNIR – International University of La Rioja.
#Narcissism #pathology #social #phenomenon