A Genuine Unadulterated Loser, Lardwellyn W. (Bill) Hughes III

On Sat, 5 Apr 2008 01:42:21 -0800,  "Superman Hughes Troll and s***
bag" <BillHughes@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

Acquired Situational Narcissism


The Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a systemic,
all-pervasive condition, very much like pregnancy: either you have it
or you don't. Once you have it, you have it day and night, it is an
inseparable part of the personality, a recurrent set of behavior
patterns.

Recent research (1996) by Roningstam and others, however, shows that
there is a condition which might be called "Transient or Tem****ary or
Short Term Narcissism" as opposed to the full-fledged version. Even
prior to their discovery, "Reactive Narcissistic Regression" was well
known: people regress to a transient narcissistic phase in response to
a major life crisis which threatens their mental composure. 

Reactive or transient narcissism may also be triggered by medical or
organic conditions. Brain injuries, for instance, have been known to
induce narcissistic and antisocial traits and behaviors.

But can narcissism be acquired or learned? Can it be provoked by
certain, well-defined, situations?

Robert B. Millman, professor of psychiatry at New York Hospital -
Cornell Medical School thinks it can. He proposes to reverse the
accepted chronology. According to him, pathological narcissism can be
induced in adulthood by celebrity, wealth, and fame.

The "victims" - billionaire tycoons, movie stars, renowned authors,
politicians, and other authority figures - develop grandiose
fantasies, lose their erstwhile ability to empathize, react with rage
to slights, both real and imagined and, in general, act like textbook
narcissists.

But is the occurrence of Acquired Situational Narcissism (ASN)
inevitable and universal - or are only certain people prone to it?

It is likely that ASN is merely an amplification of earlier
narcissistic conduct, traits, style, and tendencies. Celebrities with
ASN already had a narcissistic personality and have acquired it long
before it "erupted". Being famous, powerful, or rich only
"legitimized" and conferred immunity from social sanction on the
unbridled manifestation of a pre-existing disorder. Indeed,
narcissists tend to gravitate to professions and settings which
guarantee fame, celebrity, power, and wealth.

As Millman correctly notes, the celebrity's life is abnormal. The
adulation is often justified and plentiful, the feedback biased and
filtered, the criticism muted and belated, social control either
lacking or excessive and vitriolic. Such vicissitudinal existence is
not conducive to mental health even in the most balanced person.

The confluence of a person's narcissistic predisposition and his
pathological life cir***stances gives rise to ASN. Acquired
Situational Narcissism borrows elements from both the classic
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - ingrained and all-pervasive - and
from Transient or Reactive Narcissism.

Celebrities are, therefore, unlikely to "heal" once their fame or
wealth or might are gone. Instead, their basic narcissism merely
changes form. It continues unabated, as insidious as ever - but
modified by life's ups and downs.

In a way, all narcissistic disturbances are acquired. Patients acquire
their pathological narcissism from abusive or overbearing parents,
from peers, and from role models. Narcissism is a defense mechanism
designed to fend off hurt and danger brought on by cir***stances -
such as celebrity - beyond the person's control.

Social expectations play a role as well. Celebrities try to conform to
the stereotype of a creative but spoiled, self-centered, monomaniacal,
and emotive individual. A tacit trade takes place. We offer the famous
and the powerful all the Narcissistic Supply they crave - and they, in
turn, act the consummate, fascinating albeit repulsive, narcissists.

--


“A winner makes commitment. A loser makes promises.”

“The path of least resistance is the path of the loser.”