LISA RENEE: “Narcissistic Wound”

“The narcissist actively solicits Narcissistic Supply — adulation, compliments, admiration, subservience, attention, being feared — from others in order to sustain his fragile and dysfunctional Negative Ego. Thus, he constantly courts possible rejection, criticism, disagreement, and even mockery. The narcissist is, therefore, dependent on other people. He is aware of the risks associated with such all-pervasive and essential dependence. He resents his weakness and dreads possible disruptions in the flow of his drug: Narcissistic Supply. He is caught between the rock of his habit and the hard place of his frustration. No wonder he is prone to raging, lashing and acting out, and to pathological, all-consuming envy (all expressions of pent-up aggression). Narcissistic injury occurs when a narcissist feels that their hidden, ‘true self’ has been revealed. This may be the case when the narcissist experiences a ‘fall from grace’, such as when their hidden behaviors or motivations are revealed, or when their importance is brought into question. Narcissistic Injury is a cause of distress and can lead to dysregulation of behaviors as in narcissistic rage. Any threat (real or imagined) to the narcissist’s grandiose and fantastic self-perception (False Self) as perfect, omnipotent, omniscient, and entitled to special treatment and recognition, regardless of his actual accomplishments (or lack thereof). The narcissist has a false sense of self. Underlying this false sense of self are feelings that he is not loveable for who he is or what he offers in relationships. When a lover or partner begins to feel doubts about the narcissist, that is when the narcissistic rage surfaces.”

~Lisa Renee

 

A repeated or recurrent identical or similar threat (real or imagined) to the narcissist’s grandiose and fantastic self-perception (False Identity) as perfect, omnipotent, omniscient, and entitled to special treatment and recognition, regardless of his actual accomplishments (or lack thereof). Narcissistic rage is a reaction to narcissistic injury, which is a perceived threat to a narcissist’s self-esteem or self-worth.

Narcissistic injury occurs when a narcissist feels that their hidden, ‘true self’ has been revealed. This may be the case when the narcissist experiences a “fall from grace”, such as when their hidden behaviors or motivations are revealed, or when their importance is brought into question. Narcissistic Injury is a cause of distress and can lead to dysregulation of behaviors as in narcissistic rage.

Narcissistic rage occurs on a continuum, which may range from instances of aloofness and expressions of mild irritation or annoyance to serious outbursts, including violent attacks and murder. [1]

Narcissistic Scar

A repeated or recurrent psychological defense against a narcissistic wound. Such a narcissistic defense is intended to sustain and preserve the narcissist’s grandiose and fantastic self-perception (False Self) as perfect, omnipotent, omniscient, and entitled to special treatment and recognition, regardless of his actual accomplishments (or lack thereof).

Narcissists invariably react with narcissistic rage to narcissistic injury.

Narcissistic Injury

Any threat (real or imagined) to the narcissist’s grandiose and fantastic self-perception (False Self) as perfect, omnipotent, omniscient, and entitled to special treatment and recognition, regardless of his actual accomplishments (or lack thereof).

The narcissist actively solicits Narcissistic Supply — adulation, compliments, admiration, subservience, attention, being feared — from others in order to sustain his fragile and dysfunctional Negative Ego. Thus, he constantly courts possible rejection, criticism, disagreement, and even mockery.

The narcissist is, therefore, dependent on other people. He is aware of the risks associated with such all-pervasive and essential dependence. He resents his weakness and dreads possible disruptions in the flow of his drug: Narcissistic Supply. He is caught between the rock of his habit and the hard place of his frustration. No wonder he is prone to raging, lashing and acting out, and to pathological, all-consuming envy (all expressions of pent-up aggression).

Four dimensions of narcissism as a personality variable have been delineated:

  1. Leadership / Authority
  2. Superiority / Arrogance
  3. Self-Absorption / Self-Admiration
  4. Exploitativeness / Entitlement

Causes of Narcissistic Rage

Challenge to their Confidence: People with narcissism often place unrealistic demands on their partner or children. These demands are frequently challenged by the person in the relationship. When challenged, the narcissists’ brittle egos are unable to accept the idea that they were wrong or seen as imperfect. They turn this into a personal attack and respond with rage toward that person to regain their sense of superiority.

Injury to Self-Esteem: When a narcissist’s shortcomings are pointed out by someone, they feel an overwhelming sense of shame. The narcissist then lashes out toward the person who pointed out the shortcomings. The rage is executed to seek revenge upon the accuser. The need for revenge results in explosive rage and does not die down until the narcissist feels the person was dealt appropriate punishment.

False Sense of Self: The narcissist has a false sense of self. Underlying this false sense of self are feelings that he is not loveable for who he is or what he offers in relationships. When a lover or partner begins to feel doubts about the narcissist, that is when the narcissistic rage surfaces. [2]

 

References:

  1. Narcissistic Rage and Injury
  2. Narcissistic Wound

See Also:

Narcissistic Rage

Doublespeak

Denial

Confirmation Bias

 

~via Ascension Glossary

CHRIS THURMAN: “There’s a Sociopath in the White House”

“It is disconcerting that anyone in the country is still arguing about whether or not Trump is a misogynist, racist, xenophobe, or narcissist. He is. Actions speak louder than words, and the many things Trump has said and done throughout his life speak to these defects being true. If anything disturbs Trump’s sleep, it is the threat that sooner or later the investigative reporters he calls ‘fake news’ and government leaders and legal authorities he says are on a ‘witch hunt’ will expose his worst wrongdoings and he will finally have to pay for them. Trump is terrified by the possibility of his darkest deeds coming to light and costing him his presidency and possibly sending him to prison. Every president does wrong things. All human beings do. That’s not the issue. The issue is whether or not a president has a conscience. If they do, they will admit when they act badly, take full responsibility, experience guilt and remorse, and turn from their misdeeds. If they don’t, they’ll refuse to admit they have done anything wrong, blame others for their actions, have no empathy or compassion toward those they hurt, and continue in their wrongdoings. Trump has spent his life in the latter category, surrounding himself with people who are unhealthy enough to support him every step of the way. There’s a sociopath in the White House. If some of us don’t think so and want to keep supporting Trump, I would suggest there are none so blind as they who will not see.”

~Chris Thurman

 

Every time I watch a Donald J. Trump rally, I find myself not listening to the president but looking at the people behind him who cheer his every word. The troubling thought that goes through my mind is “There are none so blind as they who will not see.”

Many of Trump’s supporters seem oblivious to the truly dangerous mental and moral defects in our current president. I don’t say that as a hit job or attack given that I am a staunch conservative by political orientation. I say that because I believe it to be objectively true about Trump and that things are only going to get worse under his leadership.

It is heartbreaking to see the signs Trump supporters hold up at his rallies. I see women holding up “Women for Trump” signs when he is a known sexual predator and serial adulterer. I see African-Americans holding up “Blacks for Trump” signs when he is a known racist and white supremacist. I see former military servicemen and women holding up “Veterans for Trump” signs when he is a cowardly draft dodger. I see evangelicals holding up “We Support Trump” signs when there is little if any evidence he is a Christian or even holds Christian values. I see people struggling to make ends meet holding up signs of support for Trump when he has done nothing but look out for the wealthiest of the wealthy while enriching himself in office and not caring about the financial plight of the average citizen.

Is Trump a Sociopath?

It is disconcerting that anyone in the country is still arguing about whether or not Trump is a misogynist, racist, xenophobe, or narcissist. He is. Actions speak louder than words, and the many things Trump has said and done throughout his life speak to these defects being true. His presidential campaign was driven by racist sentiment, and after becoming president, he proposed barring Muslims from entering the United States. Trump ignores reality and is unremorseful about how often he twists it in ways that build his ego.

If we could stop denying these painful realities about our president, we might have to face an even more frightening possibility: Trump is a sociopath.

Seven markers suggest that a person is a sociopath. A sociopath chronically lies in an effort to deceive others and enhance his public image; acts impulsively and fails to plan; refuses to conform to social norms and repeatedly performs acts that are grounds for legal action and arrest; mistreats those who are critical or unsupportive; disregards the well-being of others; fails to sustain consistent work habits or honor financial obligations; and lacks guilt or remorse when hurtful to others.

Anyone who has studied Trump over the years would probably agree that this is an accurate description of our president.

Trump is a pathological liar, and recently cracked the 12,000 false or misleading statements barrier. He acts impulsively and fails to plan ahead, the best and most horrific example being his border policy that led to inhumane conditions for those detained and children being separated but infrequently reunited with their parents. He violates social norms all the time, even small ones, for example when he served a national championship team fast-food at the White House.

He is frequently verbally abusive toward people who criticize him, calling them all kinds of horrible names. Trump lacks empathy, and once told a grieving widow that her husband “knew what he had signed up for” when he enlisted in the military. He has no sensitivity to how his name-calling and verbal attacks are hurtful.

Lack of Conscience

According to psychologist Martha Stout and author of the book The Sociopath Next Door,

“The central trait of sociopathy is a complete lack of conscience, which is very difficult for most people to get their heads around, because those of us who do have a conscience can’t really imagine what it would be like if we didn’t. Most people think that deep down everybody has a conscience, and it turns out that’s just not true.”

 

Trump doesn’t appear to have a conscience like most of us do, and that is the main reason he can act in such illegal, unethical, and immoral ways and sleep like a baby at night.

If anything disturbs Trump’s sleep, it is the threat that sooner or later the investigative reporters he calls “fake news” and government leaders and legal authorities he says are on a “witch hunt” will expose his worst wrongdoings and he will finally have to pay for them. Trump is terrified by the possibility of his darkest deeds coming to light and costing him his presidency and possibly sending him to prison.

Every president does wrong things. All human beings do. That’s not the issue.

The issue is whether or not a president has a conscience. If they do, they will admit when they act badly, take full responsibility, experience guilt and remorse, and turn from their misdeeds. If they don’t, they’ll refuse to admit they have done anything wrong, blame others for their actions, have no empathy or compassion toward those they hurt, and continue in their wrongdoings.

Trump has spent his life in the latter category, surrounding himself with people who are unhealthy enough to support him every step of the way.

There’s a sociopath in the White House. If some of us don’t think so and want to keep supporting Trump, I would suggest there are none so blind as they who will not see.

 

~via The GlobePost

JEAN M. TWENGE, PhD: “Is Donald Trump Actually Insecure Underneath?”

I’m often asked how you can spot a narcissist. Here’s my standard list:

  • Brag or show off
  • Name-dropping
  • Name brands or flashy possessions
  • Look at themselves in the mirror a lot
  • Turn the conversation back to him/herself
  • Insults others
  • Declarations about being the “best” or “great” without details
  • Emphasizes his/her status

I wrote that list two years ago — long before Donald Trump started running for president. Yet it could have been written just for him. As others have pointed out, the Donald is a textbook case of narcissistic personality. He is clearly functioning well and thus can’t be classified as having narcissistic personality disorder, the clinical-level form, which by definition only describes someone whose traits are causing them difficulty. Trump, instead, displays narcissism as a personality trait — the type we focus on in The Narcissism Epidemic.

Here’s the question: Is Trump’s narcissism a cover for insecurity? This is known as the “mask model” — the idea that grandiose narcissism is a show to distract people from the deep psychic pain underneath. A recent piece in Time made this claim, arguing that Trump is trying to cover for a “profound insecurity and lack of self-esteem.”

Here’s the problem: At least for grandiose narcissism like Trump’s, there’s no evidence that the mask model is true. Narcissists have high self-esteem on average, not low, and the most aggressive people are those with both high narcissism and high self-esteem. Children who become narcissistic are not those shamed by their parents, but those told they are special.

Perhaps the best evidence comes from studies measuring self-esteem in a subtle way, such as with an implicit self-esteem measure recording people’s reaction time in pairing words like “I” and “me” with words like “bad” and “good.” People who score high on grandiose narcissism also score high on implicit self-esteem. In other words, deep down inside, narcissists think they are awesome.

This is also just plain common sense: Does Trump really seem like he is insecure underneath? Does he seem to be in a state of psychic pain, or even covering for one? No — he’s having the time of his life. So why does he seem to crave all of the attention and adulation? The Time article argues that Trump is trying to fill a deep “psychic hole.”

I have a more straightforward explanation: He likes all of the attention because he thinks he deserves it. It’s never enough not because of psychic pain, but because he thinks everyone should pay attention to him. Attention is fun and gratifying; it has nothing to do with insecurity.

Why the Mask Model of Narcissism Is Dangerous

I will go further: I think it’s dangerous to believe that narcissists are insecure underneath. Not only is it not supported by empirical evidence, but it promotes the idea that the way to deal with narcissists is to boost their self-esteem and heal their “wounds” through more love and affection. This is like suggesting that the way to cure obesity is by giving everyone more doughnuts. The narcissistic person who ruins relationships through his self-centeredness does not need more love or attention — he needs to get kicked to the curb. The young adult who takes advantage of everyone around her does not need her self-esteem boosted — she needs to learn responsibility.

Narcissism is known as the “disease that hurts other people,” and the cure for it is real life — losing a relationship because of selfishness, losing a job because you’ve alienated people. Yes, we should try to understand narcissists and realize that their behavior is explained by this personality trait. But that does not mean we should believe that they are actually insecure — that myth undermines our understanding of narcissism because it presumes that it’s only skin-deep.

Many, many people have been hurt in relationships with narcissists by believing that they can change the person with more love. If only that were true — but sadly, most of the time, it’s not. We can have empathy for people with narcissistic traits, but that does not mean we have to believe they are suffering underneath. Most of the time, they are making other people suffer. They won’t suffer themselves until bad things start happening to them, often as a consequence of their narcissism. It is sad, but it is not due to insecurity.

Trump is not insecure. We should not be looking for the source of his “psychic pain” or expect that someday he will break down and show his true, doubting self. He really does think that he’s that great, and that his ideas are that great. If we believe otherwise — about him or anyone else with these traits — we risk underestimating the true power of the narcissist.

 

~via PsychologyToday.com

“THE ART OF THE ORDEAL” ~ Tony Schwartz on ‘Sociopath’ President Donald Trump

“Trump is not only willing to lie, but he doesn’t get bothered by it, doesn’t feel guilty about it, isn’t preoccupied by it. There’s an emptiness inside Trump. There’s an absence of a soul. There’s an absence of a heart. Because he has no conscience, he has no guilt. All he wants to do is make the case that he would like to be true. And while I do think he is probably aware that more walls are closing around him than ever before, he does not experience the world in the way an ordinary human being would.”

~Tony Schwartz – Ghostwriter who penned Donald Trump’s 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal”

 

~via ‘Blood Money’: Donald Trump’s ‘Art of the Deal’ Ghostwriter Says He Wants to Atone for Helping President’s Rise