Addiction Essentials by Carlton K. Erickson

Author:Carlton K. Erickson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 2011-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

NPD individuals have high ambition, entertain grandiose fantasy, and depend on admiration and acclaim from others. They share many personality traits with APD individuals. They view themselves as special and expect others to publicly express admiration for their alleged “special qualities.” They believe the rules of civility, treatment programs, or the courts do not apply to them. Typically they have a pattern of exploitation and ruthlessness, and have little empathy for others. If others express pain, sadness, and feeling hurt or disappointment, this is viewed by these individuals as a weakness. They are motivated by having “special status,” receiving admiration, and gaining power over others. One of their patterns is to find fault with others, while calling attention to their own “virtues” and abilities. A second pattern is to provoke conflict among others because they enjoy watching others in conflict (a vicarious way to expel their internal feelings of conflict and chaos). They are also prone to having depression, anxiety disorders, and stress–induced disorders.

When they become abstinent, they tend to complain more often than other patients, routinely insist on exceptions to the rules, and find fault with others (staff, family members, and patients). As with APD, they will repeatedly fail to recognize their complicity in their own failure and interpersonal conflict. It often takes longer than usual to help them gain insight and learn from their mistakes. Their efforts to be viewed as special, admired, and holding power over others will be as pronounced or even stronger when they are abstinent than when they were using. They can be very intelligent and hard working, and present an image of being self-assured, competent, and successful. However, these personality traits and their self-assured behavior cloak intense fears of uncertainty, feelings of personal dissatisfaction, and feelings of inferiority. They accept their idealized qualities and reject all the qualities they dislike, which they project (attribute) to others, and then criticize others for those undesirable qualities.

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