Abstract Narcissism as it applies to psychology was first applied by Freud who drew it from the obvious connection to the Greek mythological character, Narcissus who was involved in an exclusive self-absorption. While considered a completely normal and natural stage in child development, narcissism is marked by that period in our lives when the entire world exists because we are there. In adolescence, after puberty, secondary narcissism occurs and is manifested in a sexual expression that is directed exclusively toward the self. Some degree of narcissism throughout all stages of life is considered normal as it is manifested in a healthy self-regard coupled with realistic aspirations for the self and life. The point at which narcissism becomes pathological and can be diagnosed as a personality disorder is when it begins to impair social function. Individuals with this disorder have little or no empathy for others and an inflated sense of their own importance and of the significance of their achievements. It is common for persons with this disorder to compare themselves to famous people of achievement and to express surprise when others do not share or voice the same perception. They feel entitled to great praise, attention, and deferential treatment by others, and have difficulty understanding or acknowledging the needs of others. They envy others and imagine that others are envious of them. The person with narcissistic personality disorder has no patience with others, and quickly strays from situations where he or she is not the center of attention and conversation. A person who demonstrates narcissistic personality disorder tends to maintain a highly exaggerated sense of self-importance and "specialness". Often, the clinically diagnosed narcissist is frequently occupied, to an excess, with fantasies about his/her own attributes and potentials for success in all aspects of life, and also generally depends upon confirmation from others for reinforcement of that self-image. The narcissist tends to experience difficulties maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships, stemming primarily from a distinct lack of empathy with a propensity for the taking of advantage of others in the interest of self-aggrandizement. Narcissism is often diagnosed comorbidly with antisocial personality disorders.
This paper discusses "Araby," one of the "Dubliners" short stories by James Joyce, which weaves imagery of death and darkness, sightlessness, and esotericism.
1,625 words (approx. 6.5 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 52.95
Abstract This paper explains that, through symbolism, Joyce conveys central themes of symbolic blindness, escapism, and a lack of identity. The opening line of the tale describes North Richmond Street as "being blind," as if the street itself has the potential to see itself and its residents. The author points out that death and religion are closely linked in "Araby"; religion is portrayed as a form of escapism, as a link to another world. The paper relates that, in "Araby," which is filled with imagery related to sight and eyes, the narrator sees more with his inner eye, the eye of his dreams and imagination, than he does with his real eyes; thus, he is blind to the present moment and sees only what he wants to see until the end of the tale, when his narcissism finally dawns on him.
From the Paper "The dead priest and Mangan's sister both represent exoticism and esotericism. The priest is exotic because he is dead and because in his life he served as an intermediary between this world and the spiritual world. To the narrator, the priest must have been privy to wisdom and knowledge that the average person like him is not. Likewise, the narrator imagines that Mangan's sister is privy to esoteric wisdom. Her sexuality also represents this esoteric and mysterious wisdom. "Her dress swung as she moved her body and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side," (30). Convey the connection between sexuality and esoterism, Joyce uses the motif of blindness as well as the central theme of escape: "The blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that I could not be seen." Here, Joyce also includes a double entendre, which is often used in conjunction with sexual innuendo."
Abstract This paper consists of the various ways that individuals with anorexia use forms of control to maintain their disease. Specific control issues discussed are control over previous sexual abuse, control over social ideals of thinness, control over narcissism, and control over food. The author briefly describes the disorder itself, then spends most of the paper discussing various types of control.
From the Paper "Research has been done on the ways control is shown through the expression of anorexia. Studies have shown that many anorexic individuals try to exert control over their bodies through deprivation of food because they have very little control over any other aspect of their lives. The aspects of control can vary from individual to individual. Therefore one anorexic individual may have one or many aspects of control in his or her life that is related to the disorder. Finally, in addition to the various aspects of control, an anorexic individual may have obsessive-compulsive characteristics that accompany the disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder and its characteristics are more commonly found in individuals displaying the behaviors of anorexia than individuals with bulimia (Hall et al., 1992; Wonderlich, Swift, Slotnick, & Goodman, 1990; Rogers, & Petrie, 2001, p. 181). Another disorder that can coexist quite often with anorexia is depression."
Abstract This paper begins with a brief biography of Shakespeare and summaries of the plays "Romeo and Juliet" and "Macbeth." The paper then presents Julia Kristeva's critique about hatred in "Romeo and Juliet" and Gerry Brenner's critique of the friar in that same play. The paper presents Harold Goddard's interpretation of the characters in "Macbeth" as criminals. The paper concludes with a comment on each of the two plays: 1)Romeo and Juliet's love was narcissistic; and 2) Macbeth and Lady Macbeth roles reverse by the end of the play.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. The exact date of his birth is unknown but his christening took place on April 26, 1564 therefore it is assumed he was born on April 23, 1564. His father, John, was a glove maker. He was tutored at an early age and then attended the Free School in Stratford when he was seven years old. His father took him out of school when he was 13 years old to have him apprenticed as a butcher. When he was 18 years old he married Anne Hathaway. The 26 year old woman was approximately three months pregnant when they married in November 1582. Their first daughter, Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583. Three years later, their twins, son Hamnet and daughter Judith, were born. Both were named after family friends. Little is known about his relationship with his family or what transpired in his life over the next several years."
Analyzes the protagonists' psychological disorders: pathological narcissism ("Dr. Frankenstein"), repression of the libido ("Dracula") and repression of guilt ("Fortunato").
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 4 sources, 1999, $ 47.95
From the Paper "In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is a man suffering from pathological narcissism. This narcissism is manifested specifically in Frankenstein's case in his grandiosity and the gratification he derives from his admiration for his own mental attributes. As with Narcissus, Frankenstein's self-obsession ends in disaster and death as the object he creates outside of himself as representation of his self-love ultimately brings about his own demise. Frankenstein is completely obsessed with the quest for power and knowledge, specifically power over nature, and, by extension, over death. His creation of the monster, in this context, is an expression of his desire to live beyond death, if indirectly in the monster. Ironically, that is what does occur--the monster outlives his narcissistic creator, although perhaps not for long, as the monster exits vowing to ..."
Abstract This paper discusses Freud's belief that melancholia and mourning share many of the same surface traits but are very different. The author explains that Freud believed that mourning was a natural process but that melancholia was a pathological illness. The paper interjects other authors conclude that, although Freud's theories have greatly influenced modern psychology, these theories have not been proven.
From the Paper "In the death process, the dead may or may not find permanent rebirth, but one loses self-awareness and so achieves a temporary rebirth at least. In the mourning process, one must find rebirth. If they are unsuccessful, says Freud, they enter a cycle of melancholia instead.
Freud believes that, from early childhood, most people have a need to be artistic. He also says that a sense of loss enables an artist to see things differently. "
Abstract Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a personality disturbance in which the patient has an exaggerated sense that he or she is important. Likewise, NPD is associated with two other sub-disorders, Narcissistic-Histrionic Mixed Personality Disorder and Narcissistic-Antisocial Mixed Personality Disorder. This paper looks at how the cause of NPD is essentially one thing: a patient's parent unit over-indulging and evaluating the child, all of which generally occurs during the patient's childhood. It explains that, treatment-wise, there are two main options: available hospitalization and therapy, including both individual, or psychotherapy, and group therapy. Although it may not appear to be a very troublesome disorder, patients with it commonly appear in drug rehabilitation programs, centers for youth offenders, and in jails and prisons.
From the Paper "A personality disorder is a disorder is a set of inflexible, maladaptive personality traits that keep a person from function properly in society. More specifically, the Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a disorder that causes the patient to appear arrogant, pompous, and is also unable to experience empathy for other people (Feldman 484). A person with NPD is a person that has an exaggerated sense of self-importance. These people expect special treatment from others, while at the same time blatantly disregarding the rights of those other people (Feldman 484)."
Abstract This paper discusses the rise and fall of Dr. Jack Kevorkian and traces it primarily to two factors: His familial heritage and the condition of being the child of a Holocaust survivor. The paper explores the family issue that combined medicine, a family profession in which Kevorkian was interested, as well as a macabre genre of medicine. The paper examines the psychology of Holocaust survivor children, explaining that this also presents a template on which Kevorkian could construct a helping role that nonetheless offered opportunities to indulge his narcissism.
From the Paper "Dr. Jack Kevorkian, also called Dr. Death in the popular press, has lived a life outside the normal bounds of society. Some might call him a hero; others might call him a psychopath. The truth is, of course, that a variety of factors shaped his actions, none of which automatically lead to heroics or psychopathology. In looking at the circumstances of Dr. Kevorkian's early life and family heritage, however, it is not difficult to understand how he embarked on his quest to change the way America looks at and deals with death, particularly death chosen by an individual for himself or herself."
Abstract This study seeks the origin and causes of a racial homicide in Jasper, Texas. Three schools of crime theories help explain various dimensions of the crime. The classical school advances the social contract theory and the theory of proportionality. The Marxist school presents the labeling and conflict theories. Finally, the paper shows how Vernon Geberth and Erich Fromm advance the psychology of evil or malignant narcissism to explain the origin and cause of James Byrd's lynching.
From the Paper "The proponents of the proportionality theory claim that the punishment should fit the crime. For example, if the punishment for stealing a doughnut were the same for stealing a car, many would see no added risk in stealing the car. Therefore, crime would increase if the punishment did not fit the crime. For several generations in Jasper, law enforcement looked the other way and/or participated in racist crimes. The risk for committing these crimes was next to nonexistent. Therefore, these unchallenged crimes increased in our tragic history of racism, over the decades. (Hoffman, 1999) This theory helps explain the racist crime trends from the 1920s to the 1960s. Jasper in 1998 was seen as a vestige of that era. Another paradigm may help explain the events at Jasper."
Abstract Is Earnest Hemingway a legend? The resounding answer is of course yes, most definitely. Does he deserve to be? For the loyalist of the author, this answer, too, is obvious; however there are indeed many debates on the subject. This paper shows for one to fully understand this 1954 Nobel Laureate, one needs to consider his whole body of works before arriving at one's decision. The paper presents a chronological overview of Hemingway's works and what influenced his writing.
From the Paper "Critics, too, respect Hemingway as a literary giant, not so much for his work, but for his contribution to literature. Hemingway developed a school and theory of writing that has transcended his lifetime and effected every modern writer. His critics, too, do not deny his influence, but argue that his actual writings do not deserve the praise awarded. Their claims range from the inconsistency of Hemingway and an overriding, destructive machismo to redundancy and repressed homosexual underpinnings."
Tags: Big, Two-hearted, River, symbolism, F., Scot, Fitzgerald, narcissism
Abstract This paper analyzes Joan Didion's 1970 novel "Play as it Lays"from the point of view of the Los Angeles/Hollywood entertainment industry lifestyle. It looks at the emptiness of the life of major character, Maria and the nihilism and narcissism of the lifestyle.
From the Paper "The culture of Los Angeles and Hollywood in particular may be seen as a major character in Joan Didion's novel "Play It As It Lays". For many Americans, California and Hollywood represent a golden dream but that dream has become tarnished and life-destroying ..."
Abstract Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), also known as megalomania, is a personality disorder that causes strong feelings of self-importance, an extreme desire for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. This paper examines the definition, symptoms and diagnosis of the disorder as well as methods of treatment.
From the Paper "A person diagnosed with NPD shows signs of grandiosity, extreme self-involvement, and lack of interest in and empathy for others (McNeal, 2003). Many psychologists and psychiatrists promote the use of Ego State Therapy for treatment of this disorder. Initially ego states that reveal the grandiosity are used. As therapy progresses, ego states that hold the underlying feelings of emptiness, rage, and depression can successfully emerge. With further treatment, transformation and maturation of the ego states occur, showing the changes in internal structure and dynamics in addition to improvement in external interpersonal relationships."
This paper discusses professor and author Richard Sennett's views and book "The Fall of Public Man", along with the writings of scholars, authors and critics associated with urban-themed literature.
Abstract This paper explains that Richard Sennett's observations of people in the 18th Century, which he considers the Gold Age of urban life, are that people reflective all economic levels of society, lived their lives in almost continuous performance and paraded themselves about publicly in wildly expressive costumes. The author points out that there are powerful similarities between Sennett's themes of real time play-acting drama, in which 18th Century Parisians are viewed as characters in an ongoing interactive theatrical environment, and Levi-Strauss' anthropological narrative as he leaves the Calcutta Hotel and becomes "the center of a ballet". The paper concludes that, if Sennett were to describe the frustration urban Americans experience in bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic, he would likely allude to narcissism.
From the Paper "Sennett's book "The Fall of Public Man", which, in brief summary, is an attempt to create and justify a theory that has to do with how people, social relations, and the drama of intimacy are going through - and have gone through - dramatic changes in American urban society. His theory, Sennett explains, is one that attempts to explain the "confusion" that has "arisen between public and intimate life." Masses of people are concerned with "their single life histories and particular emotions as never before," he writes; but in the process of people being concerned they are falling into a "trap" rather than being "liberated."
Abstract This paper explains that, in the 1993 film "Malice", although everything appears to be normal, the audience soon finds that not far beneath the superficially polite exterior of all the main characters there exists an unconscious and barely controlled subsurface of jealousy, anxiety, sexual insecurity and narcissistic greed, all common plot elements of the generic suspense thriller. The author points out that the thriller genre deals quite blatantly, with what Freud referred to as the resurgence of the repressed id, over and against the demands of society in the form of the externally imposed superego. The paper relates that, when the ego of repressed characters such as Andy, becomes threatened by loss of control, especially in the sexual sphere, it utilizes what Freud called defense mechanisms in an increasingly desperate effort to protect itself from the ever-increasing demands of the id.
From the Paper 'The two main male characters do not escape censure in the film, however. About midway in the film, Dr. Hill is described by another character as possessing a "God complex," which is not a psychoanalytic term in itself but which, in this context, implies someone possessed with an exceedingly strong form of narcissism, an individual trapped to some extent in an infantile phase of development and thus subject of his own libidinal impulses. In the film, this complex is narratively depicted as being not only self-destructive, but destructive of the other characters around Dr. Hill."
Abstract The paper examines pathological narcissism and how it manifests itself in Milton's "Paradise Lost" and Shakespeare's "Othello". The paper looks at the characteristics of jealousy, revenge, war and self-glorification and describes the devious, ingenious means by which both Satan and Iago wreak their havoc. The paper shows how these two characters portray how the nature of evil is to destroy and cause harm at any cost.
From the Paper "Paradise Lost, a poem by John Milton, is one of his most highly acclaimed poems. This particular poem is about the birth of Adam and Eve and how they lost their place in the Garden of Eden, or Paradise, caused by Satan. In this poem Milton deals with many issues regarding concept of evil. The concept of evil is prevalent in the character, Satan, just as it is prevalent in the character of Iago. Predictably, they also harbor some of the psychological features of those inclined to evil-doing: incorrigible jealousy, narcissism (from which springs jealousy), an inability to look at oneself honestly, a taste for violence, and an irrepressible commitment to self-glorification. Going further, there are other similarities between Satan and Iago. Chiefly, the similarities revolve around their actual activities in the stories; to wit, each individual is far more interested in securing revenge."
Tags: jealousy, revenge, war, self-glorification, Satan, Iago
