Narcissists are the namesakes of the legendary Greek boy that fell in love with his reflection in a fountain. Narcissus was so enamored with the face in the fountain that he confessed his feelings of love. The boy waited for a response that never came. Narcissus stayed by the fountain unable to eat or drink, eventually dying. The myth of Narcissus is a good illustration of the damage that total self-love can do to a person. There is a misconception about narcissistic people. This confusion is the belief that narcissistic people are in love with themselves, but according to the DSM-III criteria published in 1989, the narcissus is not in love with HIMSELF, but is in fact in love with his REFLECTION. This does not mean that a narcissus has no love for others, but it is miss-directed love. They get their identity from the love of the image they portray to others. In other words, the better they look to others, the better they feel about themselves. Narcissistic people can be self centered, selfish and maintain an inflated sense of self. They use people to advance their own desire. The act of compassion and forgiveness are nothing more than tools that help him to maintain control. When forgiveness is offered from a narcissus it is an implied statement that they are in a position of authority, which is often the case. Many narcissuses are intelligent, and have leadership qualities, drive and ambition. It is all these things combined that make a narcissus difficult to understand. The effect that a narcissus has on others Joseph Page2 may or may not be seen right away, but with closer inspection and greater awareness of a true narcissus it becomes more obvious. I would like to give some examples of people that may be narcissistic. This is my own observation and does not rely on scientific fact or psychological experience. The body has always been a source of fascination for men and women. The way we look on the outside is a good judge of ...
