Half of what’s in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) is BS. Each Country has their own DSM but none are identical. A child or an adult living in the US may be diagnosed with ADHD but in another country they would not be. That does not make any sense. Also, at one point in time homosexuality was considered a psychiatric condition in the DSM II. Who is to say how many more corrections will be made to the DSM V or VI.

I think the pendulum swings,, we are in a time where it has swung to one extreme where money and power and politics makes everything undesirable that certain classes do a 'disease'


I think it is swinging th eother way though, where money and power and politics will make it a disease to call anything undesirable or a disease,,,,lol

I'm not sure if it's really a good idea to push someone into getting a diagnosis. Nobody likes to feel like they're a social experiment or lab rat. Not sure said person would handle it well if it was brought up. I'd feel kinda awkward suggesting to someone they get diagnosed for it.

To many labels man.

In a society that doesn't like to discriminate, why categorise in the first place?

Breaking people down into bits and not looking at the whole ain't cool. you cant listen properly if your dissecting and analysing.

A constant need for attention, affirmation and praise.

A belief that he or she is unique or "special" and should only associate with other people of the same status.

Persistent fantasies about attaining success and power.

Exploiting other people for personal gain.

A sense of entitlement and expectation of special treatment.

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These are all applicable to me, but I don't get the verb.

My constant need for attention is not constant, and when I get it, it gets quelled; and when it gets quelled, I am okay for a while, but next time I'll need a bigger hit. It is not a need per se, but a craving; and if it does not get satisfied when I really need it, I get cranky.

Does that qualify me?

A belief that I am special. Well, if it's true, does that still mean I beleive that I am special? Language is of extereme importance here. A belief can be true or false. Does this belief apply to both true and false beliefs, to qualify one as NPD? The qualifying criteria doe snot say that. It's not only a belief in my case, it's knowledge, that in at least two areas of human endeavour I am way above normal. Those are creative writing and reasoning ability, which I use in times of passing the time with philosophical thoughts.

I admit, that each time a good-looking woman seemingly notices me, then those times I feel I am good looking. This IS a false belief, people look at me coz I look weird, and I know it, yet I hallucinate that I appeal to good looking women.

Does that qualify me?

Persistent fantasies?

Yes, this qualifies me. Fantasies about success, not power. But who does not have these fantasies? Wether it be a lotto win or having your picture on the "employee of the month" posted in the cafeteria? Have your kid bring home good grades? Get connected to maffia to make lotsa dough? Be accepted to med school or into Police Academy? Get your cancer cured or your blood pressure brought down? What IS a persistent fantasy that qualifies here?


Exploiting others?

In a sense, big capitalsts-industrialists who established America's industrial strength on the back of the oppressed proletariat, were exhibiting a sign of NPD? Just one sign, granted. It just goes to show that some diseases of individuals may be beneficial for soicety and for the advancement of society.

A sense of entitlement and expectation of special treatment?

Yes, this is very much me. I expect small favours, like not having to sit in a room facing a glaring window, or eating in the dark, or sitting on an uncomfortable chair or be talking to a person in front of me who is smoking. To get these situations doctored, I urgently ask others, and get irritated if it's not done. It's usually done, the comfort things. When I used to be addicted to drinking water, I used to drive my hosts nuts by getting into their house and making a bee-line for a water-source and drinking a few glasses of it. Right off the bat, after saying hi but before taking off my coat.
Does that qualify me?


You're right, Ms.Harmony, these lists mean not much to the average person. The words they use in the qualifications, are ambiguous, they have many-many nuances in meaning, and only a trained professional would know which nuance to apply in each particular case. To a layman, your (DSM) list is meaningless, and it's not your fault, but the fault of the language. Language is highly inadequate in some instances, and this is one of them.

here is what the above means to me


1. A CONSTANT need (constant means unrelenting, more often than just the norm or occasionally, as in when someone has CONSTANT headaches, as opposed to an occurrence that happens at about the normal or 'average' rate)

2. A belief that he or she is unique (There is a difference from acknowledging a unique skill or ability and believing ONESELF to be unique, it is the difference between doing something smart and BEING smart. I know I have unique traits, but I Dont believe I am unique as a human being because of those particular traits. I believe everyone to be equally human/equally flawed/equally likely to have special skills,,,etc,)

3. Persistent fantasies about attaining success and power. (Here is where the AND is important as opposed to if it had said OR. Because the narcissist feels so much more significant than anyone else, the need to have POWER over others would be prominent, as well as the need to be successful. I wish to have success, I dont care so much about having POWER nor do I fantasize about it at all let alone persistently.)

3.Exploiting other people for personal gain. (I take 'exploit' here to be used in the sense of not merely making productive use of , but to make UNFAIR/UNEQUAL use of people merely for ones gain. I dont make choices involving other people and not think about the effect it has on that person. Someone exploitive would not consider what affect it had on the other person, so long as it benefitted them)

4. A sense of entitlement and expectation of special treatment.
(I take this as the 'Im the only person in the room' syndrome. Its much more than just merely wishing to be 'comfortable', its expecting your comfort to be more important than anyone elses or, in extreme cases, expecting your comfort to be the ONLY important thing,,again with disregard to how it affects anyone else.)


Id say most psychologists have enough case studies to interpret the difference, just like the supreme court has references to help them interpret things the average citizen might not.

here is what the above means to me


1. A CONSTANT need (constant means unrelenting, more often than just the norm or occasionally, as in when someone has CONSTANT headaches, as opposed to an occurrence that happens at about the normal or 'average' rate)

If you ain't in the mood to tell me that you love me...I interpret something different than me being needy.

2. A belief that he or she is unique (There is a difference from acknowledging a unique skill or ability and believing ONESELF to be unique, it is the difference between doing something smart and BEING smart. I know I have unique traits, but I Dont believe I am unique as a human being because of those particular traits. I believe everyone to be equally human/equally flawed/equally likely to have special skills,,,etc,)

I AM unique...so is everyone else in the herd. Just like you.

3. Persistent fantasies about attaining success and power. (Here is where the AND is important as opposed to if it had said OR. Because the narcissist feels so much more significant than anyone else, the need to have POWER over others would be prominent, as well as the need to be successful. I wish to have success, I dont care so much about having POWER nor do I fantasize about it at all let alone persistently.)

I fantasize about sex and dancing...hope that counts.

3.Exploiting other people for personal gain. (I take 'exploit' here to be used in the sense of not merely making productive use of , but to make UNFAIR/UNEQUAL use of people merely for ones gain. I dont make choices involving other people and not think about the effect it has on that person. Someone exploitive would not consider what affect it had on the other person, so long as it benefitted them)

I don't do the exploitation...I don't know enough hard workers to exploit....the ones I know are too busy to be used.

4. A sense of entitlement and expectation of special treatment.
(I take this as the 'Im the only person in the room' syndrome. Its much more than just merely wishing to be 'comfortable', its expecting your comfort to be more important than anyone elses or, in extreme cases, expecting your comfort to be the ONLY important thing,,again with disregard to how it affects anyone else.)

I am me....Damn right I expect to not be treated with indifference...See #2.

I personally see no reason to accept anyones opinion of what I should be percieved to be. Especially if they think thier opinion is worth $120 an hour.

Id say you reach out to make others laugh too much to fit the criteria Krupa

and that ones on the house



,,,there is also the qualifier that at LEAST five of those traits be present in one person,, so we may find some of the things borderline representative of us, but five or more would signal warning signs,,,

I just try to live up to the example my Dad set for me and my brother. Be a good man today. Be a better man tommorrow.

great advice,,

I spent my growing up in the 70's by a hardcore Biker Disco Karate' teacher.





Dad has always made custom bikes, leather, and weapons and is the only westerner to be awarded his rank by The Japanese Kyokushinkia fighting school. I was never taught to be humble unto anyone.

I was taught confidence and a laughing spirit of individuality from an early age.

If my upbringing with an exageratted sense of self is a didease...I got leprosy.

:)

Government just wants us all drugged up so they can wreck havoc on our world without us being aware of whats happening

and diagnosis in a anecdotal form should be avoided as should "pop" diagnosis by non professionals who have access to internets definitions

but anecdotes are interesting to consider,

we used them quite a bit when I studied psychology in school, anecdotes and sharing can be used as learning tools, observational tools, or even just to inspire thought and logic,,,,

and the internet even has access to legitimate MEDICAL and AMA definitions,,, so as not to totally discount its use,,,