WHAT IS MALIGNANT NARCISSISM? - ECONOMÍA - 2025

The malignant narcissism is a variant of narcissism in which there is a personality marked by antisocial tendencies, limits features highly sadistic behavior and lack of awareness, sense of guilt and self - critical processes. It is a type of narcissistic personality disorder that was coined by the American-Austrian psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Otto F. Kernberg.

Today, this variant of narcissistic personality disorder is not listed as a psychopathological disorder. However, several authors confirm the presence of these characteristic features in different people.

According to Otto F. Kernberg, malignant narcissism implies the presence of certain variations with respect to narcissistic personality disorder. People with malignant narcissism are individuals who do not change or improve after in-hospital treatment. Likewise, he assures that they present a provocative and threatening attitude to the doctors.

In this sense, Kernberg remarked that people classified as malignant narcissists present a totally unpredictable behavior that is impossible to treat using psychological and / or psychiatric tools.

Finally, Kernberg determined that this psychological condition would explain many of the cases of murderers and people who carry out antisocial behaviors for no apparent reason.

Due to the controversy generated by this psychopathological alteration and the lack of evidence that has been shown, malignant narcissism is not currently considered a psychopathology.

Characteristics of malignant narcissism

Malignant narcissism is a psychological condition that is based on the narcissistic personality disorder and its 9 most characteristic features:

1. The person exhibits a great sense of self-importance (eg, exaggerates achievements and capabilities, expects to be recognized as superior, without proportionate achievements).

2. The person is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, imaginary power, brilliance, beauty, or love.

3. The person believes that he is special and unique. You have the certainty that you can only be understood by, or can only relate to, other people (or institutions) who are special or of high status.

4. The person demands excessive admiration from others.

5. The person is often very pretentious and has unreasonable expectations of receiving special favor treatment.

6. The person is characterized by being interpersonally exploitative. For example, you take advantage of others to achieve your own goals.

7. The person has a total lack of empathy. Likewise, she is reluctant to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.

8. The person tends to frequently envy others or believes that others envy him.

9. The person exhibits arrogant or arrogant behavior or attitudes.

Personality traits of a malignant narcissist

According to several psychoanalytic authors, malignant narcissism constitutes a special and serious type of narcissism that would be characterized by:

Antisocial tendencies

Norma Desmond, main character in "Twilight of the Gods" is an example of narcissism and pride taken to its maximum exponential

People with malignant narcissism have much more pronounced antisocial tendencies than people with narcissistic personality disorder.

According to Kernberg, these subjects tend to carry out chilling acts of cruelty, use violence regularly and are associated with behaviors associated with murders.

According to the psychoanalyst author, this trait referring to malignant narcissism would be associated with a serious alteration of the "Superego", a fact that would explain the absence of feelings of guilt when carrying out destructive behaviors towards others.

Limit trends

Another important aspect according to Kernberg about this psychological condition, and that is not usually present in narcissistic personality disorder, is the borderline tendency.

According to the Austrian psychoanalyst, malignant narcissism is characterized by limiting features of extreme gravity. These elements are manifested through behavior through irascibility, impulsivity, mythomania, and low tolerance for frustration.

Likewise, it is postulated that malignant narcissism could incorporate a total inability to postpone gratification, experiencing recurrent feelings of emptiness and the elaboration of chronic thoughts of suicide.

Sadistic behavior

Another element that distinguishes Kernberg's malignant narcissism from narcissistic personality disorder is sadistic behavior.

This psychological condition would be characterized by paranoid personality traits marked with projective defense mechanisms, distrust of others, extreme suspicion and sensitivity.

Lack of consciousness

The absence of conscience and guilt are important factors in narcissistic personality disorder but, according to Kernberg, they would be much more accentuated in cases of malignant narcissism.

In this sense, the variant of narcissism postulated by the Austrian psychiatrist would be characterized by a total absence of guilt and self-criticism regarding one's behavior.

These aspects could lead to intensely aggressive behaviors, delimited by a tendency to be offensive when opposed. These characteristic features would lead to the frequent experimentation of a state of anger.

Unstable bonds

Finally, people with malignant narcissism would be characterized by unstable bonds. Personal relationships are determined by the inability to empathize and understand the perspective of other people.

References

1. Kernberg O. Serious Personality Disorders. 7 ed. Manual Moderno Sa Mexico; 1987.
2. DSM-IV-TR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. IV. Revised text. 1st ed. Barcelona: Masson; 2003.
3. Vallejo RJ, Leal CC. Treaty of Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Barcelona: Ars Medica; 2010.
4. Levenson JL. Treatise on Psychosomatic Medicine.1ª. ed. Barcelona: Ars Medica; 2006.