Narcissistic personality disorder
From CaseyPedia
Narcissistic personality disorder or NPD is a mental disorder best described as a form of pathological narcissism. Wikipedia describes NPD as "isolating, disenfranchising, painful, and formidable for those diagnosed with it and often those who are in a relationship with them".[1].
It has been speculated, based on the behavior exhibited on his blog and talkcasts, that Sacramento real-estate speculator Casey Serin may suffer from NPD. The DSM-IV lists the following diagnostic criteria for NPD:
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
- has a grandiose sense of self-importance
- is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
- believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
- requires excessive admiration
- has a sense of entitlement
- is interpersonally exploitative
- lacks empathy
- is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
- shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.[2]
[edit] NPD and Casey Serin
Many observers believe that Serin's behavior, which includes strong self-belief in his entrepreneurial abilities and destiny and an apparent fascination with any and all media coverage of himself, fits some if not all of these criteria.
Hater Ogg the Caveman believes he may have been the first to speculate on Serin's possible NPD:
- One common thread that ties all of Casey's behavior together is an inability to see things from the other person's viewpoint. I once lived with a roommate who I am almost certain suffered from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and I recognize some of the behavior plans. I'm not saying Casey has NPD -- I am not a shrink, and at any rate he's not as bad as my old roommate -- but the behaviors are there.[3]
The May 25th, 2007 talkcast, in which Serin was confronted by his brother Steve on the damaging effects of his behavior on his wife and family, reinforced some haterz' beliefs and sparked further discussion on EN. One commenter, speaking from personal family experience:
- A person with NPD always--always--has a verbal response with which to deflect criticism. Usually, the response puts the questioner on the defensive, very often by reconstituting the question. [...] Where that fails, the NPD sufferer attempts to act like a supremely reasonable, rational person, who seriously hears and values what is being said, when no part of what is being said to him--NO part--filters through. The NPD guy will say--does this sound familiar--"you've made some good points, which I will consider". But he never takes action on them. [4]
Another commenter noted:
- They take no responsibility for any action. Ever. They'll take credit for others' success, but never any ownership for anything negative. If they hit you, you made them do it. If they fail, they were set up for failure. They will charm you long enough to get you close enough that they can whack you again. The only purpose that other people serve for someone with NPD is to validate them. The minute you don't do that, you are an enemy. That goes for family members, doubly so.[5]
[edit] Casey Serin on NPD
Serin responded dismissively to comments on IAFF suggesting that he may suffer from NPD:
- As far as other psychological problems. I kind of laught at that. Though, the symptoms might appear to be close on the surface, I think those are overly simplistic assesement.[6]
Examining the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, he noted:
- Sure I might possibly fit under a lot of those. But then which self-promoting marketer or blogger DOESN’T fit into that? Some healthy self-interested is not a bad thing and a must for personality Web 2.0 marketing nowadays.[7]
A commenter responded:
- No, Casey, you unarguably fit ALL of those. And a key symptom of NPD is being able to tick all those boxes unambiguously while still insisting that there’s no problem.[8]
[edit] References
- ↑ Narcissistic personality disorder, Wikipedia, accessed on May 26th 2007
- ↑ Narcissistic Personality Disorder, BehaveNet, reprinted from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)
- ↑ An inability to see things from the other person's viewpoint...., comment by Ogg the Caveman on EN, January 23rd2007 9:43 AM
- ↑ A verbal response with which to deflect criticisim..., comment by wine country dude on EN, May 26th 2007 at 10:52AM
- ↑ They take no responsibility for any action..., comment by Anonymous on EN, May 26th 2007 at 3:01 PM
- ↑ As far as other psychological problems..., comment by Casey Serin on IAFF, May 17th, 2007 at 11:13 PM
- ↑ I might possibly fit under a lot of those..., ibid.
- ↑ You unarguably fit all of those..., comment by Svetogorsk on IAFF, May 18th 2007 at 5:20 AM
