[marmaduke]

Not sure where to post this, I chose this sub forum because many people here have been victims of narc abuse. I would argue that most abusers are narcissists, as NPDs are without empathy, they do not feel anothers hurt.

I am surprised that so many mental health 'professionals' still belive the old, tired 101 year old theroies of Freud, like in this post by
Secretum
My therapist is really interested in PDs, and we have had some discussions on them before, which I find interesting.

She told me that Narcissists actually feel really insecure and hide that insecurity by "putting up a front" of extreme confidence and self-worship. From reading posts from you all here, I've decided that is probably not true, haha...but still. I imagine that it must be very painful to be a Narcissist. To have endured whatever it was you suffered with as a child, and then to grow up with a certain defense mechanism that keeps you from connecting from others on a meaningful level...

Why have things not moved on, I dont get it.

100 years ago, no TV, no computors, few vaccines, no penicillin.
How things have changed, but not apparently Freuds ideas on NPD! The cocaine taking, Freud as clever as he was did not get this right, I mean, come on! do we still believe in 'Penis envy' ?? Do we still belive the Earth is flat?

Freud was wrong.

Narcs are born not made. They are not the product of abuse per say.

My mother NPD, not abused, my partners lad, a clever, confident, arty, successful high flier, not abused (but very much a narc)
Lots of successful people are/were narcs. Margaret Thatcher, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Joan Crawford etc.
Margaret Thatcher enjoyed her life, the cut and thrust of politics the control, the power.
I do not believe for one moment all these people were 'hurting and insecure'

Abuse can certainly cause damage that is presents similar to NPD. But traits are not the same as a PD. Traits, learned behaviours can be treated.
Personality disorders are something you are born with, thats why they cannot be treated.
Like brown or blue eyes.

Its odd to believe a idea that someone cobbled togeather 101 years ago.

[healingme4me]

Found this ..

What causes personality disorders?

Research suggests that genetics, abuse and other factors contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive, narcissistic or other personality disorders.

In the past, some believed that people with personality disorders were just lazy or even evil. But new research has begun to explore such potential causes as genetics, parenting and peer influences:

Genetics.*Researchers are beginning to identify some possible genetic factors behind personality disorders.

One team, for instance, has identified amalfunctioning gene*that may be a factor in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Other researchers are exploring genetic links to aggression, anxiety and fear — traits that can play a role in personality disorders.

Childhood trauma.*Findings from one of the largest studies of personality disorders, theCollaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study, offer clues about the role of childhood experiences.

One study found a link between the number and type of childhood traumas and the development of personality disorders. People with borderline personality disorder, for example, had especially high rates ofchildhood sexual trauma.**

Verbal abuse.*Even verbal abuse can have an impact. In a study of 793 mothers and children, researchers asked mothers if they had screamed at their children, told them they didn’t love them or threatened to send them away. Children who had experienced such*verbal abuse*were three times as likely as other children to have borderline, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive or paranoid personality disorders in adulthood.

High reactivity.*Sensitivity to light, noise, texture and other stimuli may also play a role.

Overly sensitive children, who have what researchers call “high reactivity,” are more likely to develop shy, timid or anxious personalities.

However, high reactivity’s role is still far from clear-cut. Twenty percent of infants are highly reactive, but less than 10 percent go on to develop social phobias.

Peers.*Certain factors can help prevent children from developing personality disorders.

Even a single strong relationship with a relative, teacher or friend can offset negative influences, say psychologists.

*Adapted from “Where personality goes awry” APA*Monitor on Psychology®

http://www.apa.org/topics/personalit...rs-causes.aspx