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The inner world of narcissists: Why do they always need praise from others?
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a lifelong personality disorder characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a decreased empathy for the feelings of others. According to statistics, NPD is often comorbid with other mental health disorders, causing individuals to suffer significant impairment in social and functional abilities. This article will explore the inner world of narcissists and why they are so dependent on the admiration of others.
Narcissists often appear glamorous on the outside, but on the inside they are filled with shame and self-loathing.
Characteristics of a Narcissist
Typical traits of narcissists include an extreme vulnerability to their self-image and dependence on the evaluation of others. They are very sensitive to criticism and need constant praise to enhance their self-worth and validate their existence. Such people often exaggerate their achievements and abilities and seek status and recognition in social situations.
Narcissists combat their inner insecurities by seeking to increase their own status and gain the admiration of others.
Emotional vulnerability
Although narcissists may project an outward appearance of confidence and superiority, deep down they conceal an unspeakable vulnerability. They often experience feelings of shame, worthlessness, and lack of self-compassion, which strongly influence their social behavior. To mask these insecurities, they may refuse help from others or treat critics in a vengeful manner.
The drive to seek praiseWhy do narcissists crave admiration so much? In their opinion, external recognition is proof of their self-worth. Their self-worth often depends on external evaluation, which makes them feel extremely insecure and lost without praise. Therefore, gaining praise becomes a constant goal for them, and they repeat this process over and over again to maintain their self-image.
Narcissists' self-evaluations sometimes fluctuate dramatically with changes in external evaluations, which leads to emotional instability.
Challenges of Narcissists Relationships with Others
Building relationships with others is not easy for narcissists. They often lack empathy and have difficulty recognizing the feelings and needs of others. This causes them to engage in patterns of idealization and devaluation in their interactions with friends, co-workers, or partners. Additionally, because they react strongly to criticism, they often respond with anger and hostility to opposing views.
Narcissism and the influence of social media
In today’s social media environment, the traits of narcissists are becoming increasingly apparent. They often use social platforms to showcase their achievements and lives and seek attention and praise. This behavior not only reflects their inner needs, but may also exacerbate their narcissistic traits.
Seeking the possibility of change
While it is possible to treat narcissistic personality disorder, this usually requires the patient to be strongly motivated to change. Some psychotherapeutic approaches, such as psychoanalysis and cognitive behavioral therapy, have gradually been shown to help with these disorders. However, there is still a lack of sufficient research support for the treatment effects of NPD.
The narcissist's recognition and acceptance of his or her own problems is often a major challenge in treatment.
Conclusion
The inner world of a narcissist is a complex emotional maze of self-importance and self-doubt. Their behavior of seeking external praise is actually a cover-up for their inner anxiety. Faced with such personality traits, is it possible to fundamentally change their cognitive and behavioral patterns?
