A Theoretical and technical approach to narcissistic disturbance

Abstract

This paper makes a limited contribution to the theoretical problem of narcissism and offers a possibly useful technical approach. Terminology is clarified and two concepts are introduced: self-narcissism and object-narcissism. Detailed clinical material illustrates the presence of an unwished-for self-image acting as a resistance. Interpretation leading to integration of the self-image into the self-representation results in an increase in authenticity on which conventional interpretative activity depends. Objections and alternative views of the material are breifly discussed.