The concept of understanding an individual’s personality is very complex. Every person has their own unique combination of qualities that form their character. However, there are certain maladaptive qualities that become harmful to the individual and how they function in society. Because understanding the unique factors that create an individual personality can be difficult, theories help us point out maladaptive behaviors that are not seen as normal in society. According to Barbara Engler (2009), “a theory is a set of abstract concepts developed about a group of facts or events in order to explain them.” By obtaining information from theories that have been from about personality by influential people in the field of psychology, one is able
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According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.;DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013), narcissistic personality disorder includes a "pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood." It is “characterised by an exaggerated sense of self-importance and self-involvement” (Engler, 2009). When a person is classified as having narcissistic personality disorder, they would think he or she is unique. He or she thinks that their achievements are over the top and no one could do better therefore, they should be admired and looked up to. A type of behavior such person would engage in can be taking advantage of other people to benefit themselves. They lack empathy and are very arrogant.While observing my friend Leah, it was very noticeable that she wanted all the attention from others and felt that she needed to be admired for things she had done. She would tell others to “shut up” and “listen” because she insisted that “she is always right.” It seem very clear that Leah’s personality covers symptoms of narcissism when she kept saying that “others are just jealous of me.” It was also interesting that even though Leah was not rich she kept saying she just wanted to be rich in order to do anything she wanted. If the DSM-5 and the criteria that it offers for narcissistic …show more content…
However, by using theories of development, one can come to understand how early development can affect how an individual behaves later on. In the case of Leah, Freud’s psychosexual stages and Erickson’s stages of development helped explain possible causes for her behavior. However, it seems that the stages cannot explain everything that causes such outcomes. Even though it is suggested that Leah has narcissistic personality disorder, it is unknown if she behaves the same with every individual she meets or just her
According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.;DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013), narcissistic personality disorder includes a "pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood." It is “characterised by an exaggerated sense of self-importance and self-involvement” (Engler, 2009). When a person is classified as having narcissistic personality disorder, they would think he or she is unique. He or she thinks that their achievements are over the top and no one could do better therefore, they should be admired and looked up to. A type of behavior such person would engage in can be taking advantage of other people to benefit themselves. They lack empathy and are very arrogant.While observing my friend Leah, it was very noticeable that she wanted all the attention from others and felt that she needed to be admired for things she had done. She would tell others to “shut up” and “listen” because she insisted that “she is always right.” It seem very clear that Leah’s personality covers symptoms of narcissism when she kept saying that “others are just jealous of me.” It was also interesting that even though Leah was not rich she kept saying she just wanted to be rich in order to do anything she wanted. If the DSM-5 and the criteria that it offers for narcissistic …show more content…
However, by using theories of development, one can come to understand how early development can affect how an individual behaves later on. In the case of Leah, Freud’s psychosexual stages and Erickson’s stages of development helped explain possible causes for her behavior. However, it seems that the stages cannot explain everything that causes such outcomes. Even though it is suggested that Leah has narcissistic personality disorder, it is unknown if she behaves the same with every individual she meets or just her