Our personality is what makes us unique individuals, different from other people. It is the way we feel, think, and behave. Our personality is defined by a number of things — inherited characteristics, our environment, and our experiences. When someone’s way of feeling, thinking and behaving are far different from what is expected by one’s culture, and if this causes a problem with the way he or her functions, this person has a personality disorder. It is not simply a single instance or a short-term deviation, but one that lasts over time.
There are different types of personality disorders. These long-term behavior patterns are significantly different from the norm. This deviation typically begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. It causes distress, and if it remains untreated, may last long. These disorders may affect a person’s way of thinking about him or herself and others, his or her way of relating to other people, his or her way of controlling his or her behavior, or his or her way of responding emotionally.
One of these personality disorders is the narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), named after Narcissus, a handsome young man in Greek mythology who fell in love with his own reflection. In a nutshell, this disorder is characterized by a need for admiration while lacking empathy for others.
To learn more about narcissistic personality disorder, read on about some of their defining traits.
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