In the context of the recent controversy regarding the diagnosis of Personality disorders According to the new criteria of DSM 5 (APA, 2013), an important role was assumed by the narcissistic personality disorder, which initially seemed destined to disappear from the new international diagnostic manual, but which was then “readmitted” within the same, after not a few controversies in this regard.
According to the new model of DSM 5, the diagnosis of Narcissistic personality disorder (ie Narcissistic personality disorder, Npd) provides for a marked compromise of the individual in the domain of the self (excessive need for admiration of others and feelings of superiority) and in its personal and relational functioning (poor empathy and difficulty in emotional closeness).
The personality traits associated with this disorder are the tendency to consider themselves superior to others and to expect a favor of favor, the high need for admiration and attention, the tendency to antagonism in interpersonal relationships (with feelings of envy towards others) and a little interest in the emotional experiences of others.
The vision of DSM 5 is absolutely compatible with a dimensional model in which the NPD and narcissistic traits They are in a relationship of continuity: while the latter can be adaptive, pathological narcissism reaches levels of compromise that make it equivalent to the NPD.
The prevalence of the narcissistic disorder It varies from 1% in the general population to 2% in that clinical, and these percentages seem to be increased in recent decades (Dhawan, Kunik, Oldham, & Coverdale, 2010; Zimmerman, Rothschild, & Chelmininski, 2005).
In a recent revision of literature, Joel Paris (2014) examined the hypothesis that the western social and cultural changes of the last 50 years may have had effects of Increment of narcissism.
There are many contributions within the psychological literature and sociology that have long supported the hypothesis that the characteristics of modern society “incentivine” i STATES OF NARCISISTIC PERSONALY.
In particular, some authors have analyzed the spread of what is said “expressive individualism” (Bellah, Madsen, Sullivan, Swidler, & Tipon, 1985), characterized by a greater focus of the individual on himself, in contrast to the community: with the weakening of traditional society, in fact, individuals have less and less conformed to external expectations, focusing on their own needs.
Even the historian Christopher Lascan, already in the 70s, introduced the term “cultural narcissism“To describe how the society of that time encouraged individuals to focus on himself by spreading the cult of fame and celebrity and fear of old age and lasting relationships.
However, it should be noted that, among the recent investigations in this regard, no significant changes have been found in the spread of the narcissistic personality Starting from the 80s to today (Twenge, 2011), suggesting the usefulness of meta-analysis that date back to the previous decades.
With a view to Paris (2014), in addition to global social changes, the current trend of psychotherapy also focus on internal states and needs can also have increases in increase on narcissism.
In reality, this second hypothesis is very complex to analyze, above all due to the difficulties that have always been found in the psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with narcissistic personalities.
In conclusion, despite the hypotheses regarding the purposes of society on individual personality continue to fascinate and excite scholars of different doctrines, to date – from a scientific point of view – there is still no evidence in this regard and the phenomenon seems stable over time.
