The term narcissism was first introduced by Näcke in 1899 from Ellis’ studies of perverse behavior relating to narcissus myth. Subsequently, it was the subject of many discussions and debates within the psychoanalytic school and will take on many meanings, the main ones of which are:

• narcissism initially designated a perversion;
• a libidinal stage corresponding to a phase of psychosexual development;
• a regressive state specific to sleep, dreaming, organic disease, l’hypocondrie and psychoses;
• a relational mode, an attachment to an object;
• a particular fate of the libidinal drive;
• a process of “internalizing a relationship”;
• the libidinal complement of egoism;
• a primordial primordial state of the ego at the very beginning of psychic life, where the ego is capable of being satisfied in itself.

According to the American Psychoanalytic Association, it refers to the concentration of psychological interest on the ego. The pathological elements of narcissism would be the failure of self-esteem and on the contrary, narcissistic hypertrophy.

Many authors, whether psychiatrists or psychoanalysts, consider narcissism in a negative light or in terms of pathologies. There is nevertheless a structuring narcissism, called “healthy” and based on 3 components stable and solid:

• Love of self
• Self-confidence
• Self-esteem

Self-confidence. Its implementation takes place through successive acquisitions and various influences. For the psychoanalyst Furtos, there is in the child a state of weakness and vulnerability which gives him a feeling of precariousness, then this feeling evolves towards a self-confidence (if the parents help him to acquire it), a confidence in others and confidence in the future.

Self-esteem. It is defined by the cohesion between the aspirations and the successes of a person. It therefore involves judging one’s personal worth, making a judgment on oneself, based on awareness and knowledge of oneself.

According to author Rosenberg, high self-esteem is an indicator of acceptance, tolerance, personal satisfaction, and self-respect. It is flexible to ensure the individual the possibility of adapting and evolving according to new realities and needs, but must be solid so as not to collapse or “swell” depending on the situations encountered. Otherwise, we say that self-esteem is pathological, too subject to external influences and oscillations. 

Narcissism is seen by several authors, including Freud, Grunberger, Kohut and Nacht, as having the function of ensuring the survival of the organism, of building the identity of the human being and of developing an aptitude for loving others. . It is therefore not surprising to learn that insufficiently established and integrated narcissism has several repercussions.

1) The disorders of narcissism can be explained in early childhood, in relationships with parental figures, following early trauma or early object relationships.

2) Maintaining a persistent dependence on an object has the consequence of making people fear that they are dependent on someone else or on something. Individuals whose narcissism is failing, can then deny their excessive dependence on external objects, defend themselves against the need of others and against the fear of rejection by adopting an attitude of independence and mistrust, a superficial emotional life.

3) Several authors claim that the child learns to love himself by watching how others love him. He will therefore love himself as he has been loved and will love others as he loves himself. The child is therefore dependent on his human environment in his learning to love himself and to love others.

4) Disorders of narcissism play an important role in the etiology of trough.

5) Disorders of narcissism are often accompanied by impaired control of aggressive impulses leading to hostile reactions, manifestations of rage and violence. In his 1983 work on narcissism, Lowen attributes to people with narcissistic disorders an inability to feel and express “normal” anger with tendencies to enter into irrational, excessive and destructive rages.

6) The disorders of narcissism have repercussions in the love life. The relational experience with the parents in childhood partly determines the way in which an adult individual will experience his romantic relationship as well as the choice of the romantic partner.

« Two mistakes not to make: love or hate your body. To be hooked or want to delete it. Narcissism and self-hatred, money and suicide; same substance. ” Philippe Sollers