Narcissism
Book - 2023
"Narcissism For Dummies pulls back the curtain on a growing and misunderstood personality. This book digs into dimensions of narcissism, grandiosity, malignancy, and vulnerability, giving you the knowledge and perspective you need to identify narcissists in your life and set limits on unacceptable behavior. It also takes a look at how society plays a part in fostering narcissism, for example through social media. You'll walk away from Narcissism For Dummies with a clearer sense of the personality trait, as well as necessary coping mechanisms and tools to deal with the narcissists in your life. Deal with narcissistic parents, bosses, coworkers, relatives, romantic partners, and beyond. Discover tactics and exercises for identifying..., disarming, and protecting yourself from narcissists. Set limits, establish healthy boundaries, and rebuild your self-confidence. Understand narcissistic personality in all its manifestations. Anyone whose life has been touched by narcissism will find this book helpful, whether you're coming to terms with a loved one's diagnosis, dealing with a narcissist in the workplace, or working to move forward after leaving a narcissistic relationship."--
Saved in:
- Subjects
- Published
-
Hoboken, NJ :
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
[2023]
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Item Description
- "Learning made easy"--Cover.
"Understand the root causes of narcissism; identify a narcissist in a personal or professional relationship; create healthy boundaries and regain your identity"--Cover.
Includes index. - Physical Description
- xiv, 330 pages ; 24 cm
- ISBN
- 9781394182350
- Introduction
- About This Book
- Foolish Assumptions
- Icons Used in This Book
- Beyond the Book
- Where to Go from Here
- Part 1. Reflecting on Narcissism
- Chapter 1. Narcissism: The Big Picture
- What's So Grand About Narcissism?
- Spotting a narcissist
- Considering telltale narcissistic traits
- Understanding how certain cultures foster narcissism
- Counting the Costs of Narcissism
- Broken relationships
- Fractured families
- Conflict at work and in the neighborhood
- Social unrest in group settings
- Dealing with a Narcissist: The Basics
- Responding thoughtfully rather than merely reacting
- Setting boundaries
- Recognizing gaslighting
- Maintaining your self-esteem
- Keeping things superficial and brief
- Cutting off or compartmentalizing hurtful relationships
- Getting Help: Considering Treatment Options
- Chapter 2. Taking a Closer Look at Narcissism
- Recognizing Narcissistic Traits and Patterns
- Reveling in self-importance
- Seeking unlimited power and success - at any cost
- Believing in absolute uniqueness and worth
- Demanding attention, approval, and praise
- Feeling entitled: Expecting privileges and special treatment
- Exploiting and controlling others
- Lacking empathy
- Being immersed in envy and jealousy
- Exhibiting antagonizing arrogance
- Displaying other telling symptoms
- Examining the Four Types of Narcissism
- Grandiose
- Vulnerable
- Malignant
- Mixed
- Taking Traits and Patterns to the Next Level
- Officially diagnosing narcissistic personality disorder
- Taking a closer look at NPD
- Roaming the ranges of narcissism
- Chapter 3. Better Together? Considering Collective Narcissism
- In-Groups and Out-Groups: The Benefits of Belonging
- Understanding the Appeal: Narcissism and Groups
- The low self-esteem factor
- The pull of puffed-up groups
- Evaluating whether a Group is Collectively Narcissistic
- Concerning Outcomes of Collective Narcissism
- Racism and anti-Semitism
- Sexism
- Extreme devotion to sports teams
- Blind patriotism
- Identifying Ways to Decrease Narcissism in Groups
- Increasing solid group self-esteem
- Finding commonalities
- Chapter 4. Tracing the Roots of Narcissism to Parenting
- Growing a Narcissist
- The limited link to genetics
- The significant role parenting plays
- Adding Fertilizer to the Narcissism Seed: Other Contributing Factors
- Neglecting children
- Valuing prestige over decency
- Turning a cold shoulder to kids
- Being abusive
- Fending Off Narcissism: Arming Your Child with Healthy Self-Esteem
- Are You Raising a Narcissist? An Eye-Opening Quiz
- Part 2. Interacting with Narcissists
- Chapter 5. Dealing with Narcissistic Partners
- Charming, Charismatic and Considerate: What's Not to Like?
- Connecting too quickly
- Love bombing
- Taking trophy partners
- Going from g.o.a.t. to ghost
- Entitled and Egotistical: So Much for the Honeymoon Phase!
- All's well on social media
- Gaslighting
- Cheating and deceiving
- The silent treatment
- Isolation from family and friends
- All take and no give: Lacking empathy
- The Debris of Emotional Abuse: longing for Intimacy and Coming Up Short
- Losing your self-esteem
- Sacrificing yourself
- Feeling helpless and hopeless
- Coping Skills: Keeping Your Sanity while Dealing with a Narcissistic Partner
- Be knowledgeable about narcissism
- Don't expect your partner to change
- Do an honest cost/benefit analysis
- Expand your relationships
- Enliven your interests
- Consider individual therapy
- Give up the dream
- Chapter 6. The Effects of Narcissistic Parenting
- Taking a Look at Attachment Styles
- Considering How Narcissistic Parents Approach Their Child's Life Stages
- Caring for babies: "What's in it for me?"
- Taking on toddlers: "Too much trouble!"
- Sending kids to school: "You're my best friend"
- Emerging adulthood: Two can play that game!"
- Focusing on Narcissistic Mothers
- Daughters: Walking a tightrope
- Sons: Serving as saviors
- Considering Narcissistic Fathers
- Daughters: Riding an emotional roller coaster
- Sons: Always competing, never measuring up
- Viewing Possible Outcomes of a Narcissistic Upbringing
- Putting others first: Pleasers
- Suffering self-doubt: Never good enough
- Feeling anxious and fearing abandonment
- Turning disagreeable and avoidant
- Following a parent's lead: Learned narcissism
- Coping with the Fallout from Narcissistic Parents
- Setting boundaries
- Achieving healthy, resilient outcomes
- Giving up the dream
- Chapter 7. Close Encounters with Narcissists
- Having to "Live with" Narcissistic Neighbors
- Watching for warning signs
- When you live right next door
- Handling challenges
- Figuring Out Your Friend Is a Narcissist
- Watching for warning signs
- Staying safe
- Working Alongside a Narcissist
- Watching for warning signs
- Making it work at work
- Avoiding gaslighting and gossip
- Dealing with any fallout
- Reporting to a Narcissistic Boss
- Determining what type of narcissist you're working for
- Remaining vigilant and minimizing the damage
- Staying sane
- Chapter 8. Exploring Vulnerabilities: Who Attracts a Narcissist
- Adult Children of Narcissists Make Easy Targets
- Feeling like you finally measure up
- Repeating themes from childhood
- Adults Battling Low Self-Esteem
- Considering common causes of low self-esteem
- How feeling defective can make you more vulnerable
- Ignoring red flags isn't the answer
- Identifying Other Vulnerable People
- Suffering after a breakup or loss
- Lacking social support
- Healthy People Get Sucked In Too
- How being understanding and empathetic can backfire
- When caregiving comes naturally
- Enjoying the challenge of a fixer-upper
- Chapter 9. Surviving Narcissistic Abuse: A Tool Kit
- Giving Your Concern a Name: Cognitive Dissonance
- Recognizing Abuse in Your Relationship
- Honing your lie detecting skills
- Keeping a list of concerns and indiscretions
- Seeing denial for what it is
- Placing blame with your abuser, not yourself
- Establishing a New Support Network
- Expanding your friend circle
- Seeking professional help
- Strengthening Your Defenses: Don't Fail for a Hoovering Narcissist
- Talk is cheap: Words have little meaning
- Actions are short-lived
- Surprise! The narcissist in your life hasn't changed
- Regaining Control: Eliminating or Limiting Contact
- Blocking calls, texts, and online access
- When children are involved
- Giving Yourself Time to Refocus
- Put off big decisions
- Find self-forgiveness
- Grieve what could have been
- Getting Hooked Again: Surviving a Relationship Relapse
- Don't put yourself down
- Keep trying until you break free
- Moving Forward: Taking Better Care of Yourself
- Improving your health
- Engaging in self-soothing activities
- Part 3. Recognizing Narcissists' Emotions and Behaviors
- Chapter 10. Exploring the Nuances of Self-Esteem and Narcissism
- Focusing on Values: Self-Esteem Basics
- Factoring in three facets of self-esteem
- Developing self-esteem
- Looking at low self-esteem
- Connecting Narcissism and Self-Esteem
- Explaining explicit versus implicit self-esteem
- Assessing authentic versus arrogant pride
- Considering fragile self-esteem
- Chapter 11. Assessing Narcissistic Aggression
- Threatened Egos: When Narcissists Get Aggressive
- Reactive aggression
- Proactive aggression
- Identifying Forms of Narcissistic Aggression
- Bullying
- Passive aggression
- Emotional abuse
- Physical violence
- Mass shootings and narcissistic rage
- Suicide and the aging narcissist
- Malignant Narcissists Know No Limits
- Overlapping symptoms with antisocial personality disorder
- The dark triad of personality traits
- Coping with Narcissistic Aggression
- Chapter 12. Feeling Entitled to Everything
- Exploring Narcissistic Entitlement
- At school
- At work
- In everyday life
- Seeking Status: Why Narcissists Feel They Deserve the Latest and Greatest
- You're so vain: Looking good at any cost
- Bragging about brands
- Focusing on flash over functionality
- Scoring exclusive items
- Consuming goods conspicuously
- The Charitable Narcissist: Doing Good Only to Gain Recognition
- Handling Entitlement in a Relationship: Setting Firm Boundaries
- Chapter 13. The Struggling Narcissist: Coping with Co-Occurring Disorders
- Looking at Histrionic and Antisocial Personality Disorders and More
- Leading with hysterics: Histrionic personality disorder
- Rules are meant to be broken; Antisocial personality disorder
- Other personality disorders that co-occur with narcissism
- Considering How Other Mental Health Disorders May Relate to Narcissism
- Recognizing research's limitations
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Substance abuse disorders
- Eating and body dysmorphic disorders
- Suicide and Narcissism
- Narcissists, Self-Absorption, and Emotional Disorders
- Chapter 14. Success Is in the Eye of the (Narcissistic) Beholder
- Enjoying Short-Term Success as Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs
- Struggling to relate to others
- Practicing risky business
- Looking to Win: Narcissists as Politicians and Dictators
- Making more extreme politicians
- Controlling personality traits of dictators
- Basking in the Public Eye; Celebrities
- Reality TV stars
- Comedians
- Actors
- Musicians
- Sports figures
- Like Moths to a Flame: Narcissists and Social Media Fame
- Everyone can be famous (for 15 minutes or so)
- Monetizing social media fame
- Interacting with the Successful Narcissist
- Part 4. How Culture Cultivates Narcissism
- Chapter 15. Staying Connected but Alone: Narcissism and the Social Media Effect
- Considering Social Media Consumption
- Identifying trends
- Seeing the implications
- Why Social Media Appeals to Narcissists
- Self promotion
- Manipulation
- Anonymity
- Social Media's Impact on Youth and Young Adults
- Encouraging self-absorption
- Fueling fear of missing out (FOMO)
- Leading to loneliness
- Increasing risk for anxiety, depression, and suicide
- Chapter 16. Everyone Is Just So Special: How Culture Fans the Narcissist's Flame
- Rewarding One and All: Downsides to the Self-Esteem Movement
- Empty accolades; The rise of the participation trophy
- Inflated grades and the ill-prepared student
- Considering the results: Degraded education systems and low literacy rates
- Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Obsessing about Appearance
- Reflecting on mirrors: Benefiting from being considered attractive
- Fading reflections: Ageism
- Chapter 17. Incivility and Narcissism: A Growing Concern
- Civility in a Nutshell
- Investigating Narcissistic Incivility
- Entitlement on display
- Rudeness in the friendly skies
- Road rage
- Exploring Why Incivility Is on the Rise
- A Two-Way Street; The Role of Reciprocity
- Narcissism and reciprocity
- Civility and balanced reciprocity
- Part 5. Treating Narcissism
- Chapter 18. Seeking Help
- Trouble in Paradise: Why Narcissists May Agree to Therapy
- Relationship disruptions
- Work-related problems
- Court mandates
- Narcissistic injuries
- Preparing for Pushback: Common Responses to Therapy
- Managing manipulations
- Tempering potential breakthroughs
- Giving Therapy a Chance
- Considering the cost/benefit analysis
- Going with a pro: Why an experienced therapist matters and how to find one
- Getting the help and support YOU need
- Chapter 19. Taking the Psychodynamic Approach to Treating Narcissism
- Exploring Important Concepts Related to Psychodynamic Therapy
- The unconscious, preconscious, and conscious
- Free association and interpretation
- Defense mechanisms
- Transference
- Countertransference
- Gaining Awareness with Transference- Focused Psychotherapy
- Chapter 20. Changing Thoughts and Behaviors with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Taking a Collaborative Approach: The CBT Client/Therapist Partnership
- Setting treatment goals together
- Minding motivation
- Establishing boundaries
- Reinforcing the CBT model
- Using CBT to Change Problematic Behaviors
- Developing new strategies for persistent problems
- Conducting behavioral experiments
- Addressing Dysfunctional Thinking with CBT
- Identifying unhelpful thoughts
- Challenging unhelpful thoughts
- Tracking Your Loved One's Progress
- Chapter 21. Coping Skills for Narcissists: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Tolerating Distress
- Delaying impulsive responses
- Distracting the mind from a stressful situation
- Practicing Mindfulness
- Accepting the present moment
- Giving up judgment
- Calming down through controlled breathing
- Meditating to focus the mind
- Emotional Regulation: How it Works
- Emotional regulation and narcissism
- Differentiating primary and secondary emotions
- Taking care of basic needs
- Opposite actions: Countering common emotional responses
- Improving Interpersonal Skills with DBT
- Paying attention
- Examining conflict
- Part 6. The Part of Tens
- Chapter 22. Ten Quick Ways to Diffuse Narcissistic Behavior
- Don't Let Your Ego Get in the Way
- Excuse Yourself and Walk Away
- Appeal to Their Uniqueness
- Puff Up Their Superiority
- Appear Engaged
- Apologize for Small Stuff
- Partially Agree
- Lose the Battle but Win the War
- Don't Get Mad
- Drop the Rope
- Chapter 23. Ten Tips for Leaving a Narcissistic Relationship
- Consider Getting Professional Mental Health Support
- Copy Documents and Protect Privacy
- Establish Financial Independence
- Make a Clean Break
- Resist Being Sucked Back In
- Know Setbacks Are Normal
- Discard Mementos
- Keep Clear of Narcissists' Allies
- Watch Out for the Narcissistic Storm
- Give Yourself Time to Grieve
- Index