The Big Green CapsThe Big Green Caps(A.K.A.: Team 1)(A.K.A.: Team 1)

Narcissistic Personality Narcissistic Personality DisorderDisorder

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Ignatius J. ReillyIgnatius J. Reilly

By: Andrew, Anne, Connie and Diana

NarcissismNarcissism

Greek MythGreek Myth Narcissus was beautiful Narcissus was beautiful

and told he would live long and told he would live long if he did not look at if he did not look at himself.himself.

He got lots of attention He got lots of attention from the nymphs. One in from the nymphs. One in particular, Echo, who he particular, Echo, who he rejected was so rejected was so distraught, she faded away distraught, she faded away into a whisper. into a whisper.

Nemesis heard of the Nemesis heard of the rejection and sought rejection and sought vengeance and arranged vengeance and arranged for Narcissus to fall in love for Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection. with his own reflection.

He fixated upon his own He fixated upon his own beauty and its reflection beauty and its reflection and there died.and there died.

Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud Theorized that primary Theorized that primary

narcissism is a developmental narcissism is a developmental stage in which all of the libido stage in which all of the libido is invested in the self.is invested in the self.

Later if the libido was Later if the libido was invested in others, less would invested in others, less would be invested in one’s own ego.be invested in one’s own ego.

On the other hand, if the On the other hand, if the libido were not invested and libido were not invested and was focused inwardly, the was focused inwardly, the result would be the individual result would be the individual would be less connected and would be less connected and not be able to relate to not be able to relate to others.others.

What do you think?What do you think?

DSM-IV-TRDSM-IV-TR

A pervasive pattern A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, and lack of empathy, beginning by early beginning by early adulthood and adulthood and present in a variety of present in a variety of contexts, as indicated contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of by five (or more) of the following.the following.

DSM-IV Narcissistic criteriaDSM-IV Narcissistic criteria(1) Grandiose sense of self importance(1) Grandiose sense of self importance

When writing in his journal he notes of the “revolutionary When writing in his journal he notes of the “revolutionary innovations” he is contributing to Levy Pants Co., such as innovations” he is contributing to Levy Pants Co., such as arriving to work late so he is refreshed and rested to work and arriving to work late so he is refreshed and rested to work and by throwing the files in the rubbish to decrease potential fire by throwing the files in the rubbish to decrease potential fire hazards. (Toole, 1980, ch. 4hazards. (Toole, 1980, ch. 4))

““I shall act as a sort of mentor and guide for the movement, my I shall act as a sort of mentor and guide for the movement, my not inconsiderable knowledge of world history, economics, not inconsiderable knowledge of world history, economics, religion, and political strategy acting as a reservoir, as it were, religion, and political strategy acting as a reservoir, as it were, from which these people can draw rules of operational from which these people can draw rules of operational procedure” (Toole, 1980, p. 270).procedure” (Toole, 1980, p. 270).

*Where Ignatius is ignored by the group of party members and *Where Ignatius is ignored by the group of party members and how it makes him feel, is in contrary to a “grandiose sense of how it makes him feel, is in contrary to a “grandiose sense of self-importance” “Ignatius, feeling just as invisible standing self-importance” “Ignatius, feeling just as invisible standing there in Dorian’s living room, began feinting at some imaginary there in Dorian’s living room, began feinting at some imaginary opponent with his cutlass to relieve his self-consciousness” opponent with his cutlass to relieve his self-consciousness” (Toole, 1980, p. 333-334).(Toole, 1980, p. 333-334).

DSM-IV Narcissistic criteriaDSM-IV Narcissistic criteria

(2)(2) Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal lovebrilliance, beauty, or ideal love

““I hope that you carry liability insurance. If I hope that you carry liability insurance. If not, you may well lose this flamboyant not, you may well lose this flamboyant property once my legal advisors have property once my legal advisors have attended to you” (Toole, 1980, p. 336).attended to you” (Toole, 1980, p. 336).

On page 269, Ignatius writes extensively On page 269, Ignatius writes extensively about how he will infiltrate the military and about how he will infiltrate the military and the possibly the presidency with his new the possibly the presidency with his new political party so they can overthrow all political party so they can overthrow all existing governments so that the world will existing governments so that the world will no longer focus on war, but orgies. (Toole, no longer focus on war, but orgies. (Toole, 1980)1980)

DSM-IV Narcissistic criteriaDSM-IV Narcissistic criteria

(3)(3) Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with other special or high-status understood by, or should associate with other special or high-status

people or institutionspeople or institutions

When Mr. Clyde offers Ignatius a job pushing When Mr. Clyde offers Ignatius a job pushing a hot dog cart, Ignatius is offended, like this a hot dog cart, Ignatius is offended, like this is beneath him. (Toole, 1980, ch. 7)is beneath him. (Toole, 1980, ch. 7)

““Clearly, an area like the French Quarter is Clearly, an area like the French Quarter is not the proper environment for a clean-living, not the proper environment for a clean-living, chaste, prudent, and impressionable young chaste, prudent, and impressionable young working boy. Did Edison, Ford, and working boy. Did Edison, Ford, and Rockefeller have to struggle against such Rockefeller have to struggle against such odds?” (Toole, 1980, p. 227).odds?” (Toole, 1980, p. 227).

“…“…for I mingle with my peers or no one, and for I mingle with my peers or no one, and since I have no peers, I mingle with no one” since I have no peers, I mingle with no one” (Toole, 1980, p 142). (Toole, 1980, p 142).

DSM-IV Narcissistic criteriaDSM-IV Narcissistic criteria(4) Requires excessive admiration(4) Requires excessive admiration

  ““A group of tourists wandered along the A group of tourists wandered along the streets, their cameras poised, their glittering streets, their cameras poised, their glittering eyeglasses shining like sparklers. Noticing eyeglasses shining like sparklers. Noticing me, they paused and …..begged me to pose me, they paused and …..begged me to pose for a photograph. Pleased by their gracious for a photograph. Pleased by their gracious attention, I acquiesced. For minutes they attention, I acquiesced. For minutes they snapped away as I obliged them with several snapped away as I obliged them with several artful poses” (Toole, 1980, p. 231).artful poses” (Toole, 1980, p. 231).

DSM-IV Narcissistic criteriaDSM-IV Narcissistic criteria(5) Sense of entitlement(5) Sense of entitlement

““Ignatius gave the driver a clipboard and a variety of Ignatius gave the driver a clipboard and a variety of instructions upon speed, direction and shifting. By instructions upon speed, direction and shifting. By the time they had reached Constantinople Street the time they had reached Constantinople Street there was a hostile silence in the taxi, which was only there was a hostile silence in the taxi, which was only broken by the driver’s request for the fare” ( p. 90).broken by the driver’s request for the fare” ( p. 90).

““Pardon me, Ignatius said. Mother are you going to Pardon me, Ignatius said. Mother are you going to entertain this gentleman all afternoon? I would like entertain this gentleman all afternoon? I would like to remind you that I am going to go to the movies to remind you that I am going to go to the movies tonight and I am due at the theater promptly at tonight and I am due at the theater promptly at seven so I can see the cartoon. I would suggest that seven so I can see the cartoon. I would suggest that you begin preparing something to eat” (Toole, 1980).you begin preparing something to eat” (Toole, 1980).

DSM-IV Narcissistic criteriaDSM-IV Narcissistic criteria(6) Is interpersonally (6) Is interpersonally

exploitiveexploitive

Ignatius takes it upon himself to lead the Ignatius takes it upon himself to lead the factory workers in a demonstration factory workers in a demonstration against Levy Pants after convincing against Levy Pants after convincing them that they are treated unfairly and them that they are treated unfairly and are being oppressed. He uses the factory are being oppressed. He uses the factory workers and this bogus demonstration workers and this bogus demonstration as a way to make Myrna jealous of his as a way to make Myrna jealous of his social crusade. (Toole, 1980)social crusade. (Toole, 1980)

““The boy with the magnificent The boy with the magnificent photographs was definitely a find. photographs was definitely a find. Ignatius wondered if he could blackmail Ignatius wondered if he could blackmail him into watching the wagon every him into watching the wagon every afternoon” ( p. 290).afternoon” ( p. 290).

DSM-IV Narcissistic criteriaDSM-IV Narcissistic criteria

(7)(7) Lacks empathyLacks empathy

*Mother tells him that the doctor says her elbow *Mother tells him that the doctor says her elbow has to be massaged due to her pain and Ignatius has to be massaged due to her pain and Ignatius says, "I hope you don't want me to do that. You says, "I hope you don't want me to do that. You know how I feel about touching other people" know how I feel about touching other people" (Toole, 1980, p. 12).(Toole, 1980, p. 12).

He is not interested in how his mother is going He is not interested in how his mother is going to come up with the money to pay for the to come up with the money to pay for the contractor, he doesn't volunteer any solutions or contractor, he doesn't volunteer any solutions or anything. "We can mortgage the house. anything. "We can mortgage the house. Mortgage the house? Of course we won't. What Mortgage the house? Of course we won't. What else we gonna do Ignatius? There are means else we gonna do Ignatius? There are means Ignatius said absently. I wish you wouldn't Ignatius said absently. I wish you wouldn't bother me with this" (Toole, 1980, p. 49).bother me with this" (Toole, 1980, p. 49).

DSM-IV Narcissistic criteriaDSM-IV Narcissistic criteria

(9)(9) Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudesShows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

When George tries to buy a hot dog from Ignatius, he insults his When George tries to buy a hot dog from Ignatius, he insults his pimply complexion, calls him a waif, rams him in the crotch with pimply complexion, calls him a waif, rams him in the crotch with his cart and refuses to sell him a hot dog on the grounds that " I, his cart and refuses to sell him a hot dog on the grounds that " I, for one, will not contribute to the debauchery of a minor" (Toole, for one, will not contribute to the debauchery of a minor" (Toole, 1980, p. 161).1980, p. 161).

Referring to Angelo and Santa:Referring to Angelo and Santa: *"My mother is currently associating with some undesirables who *"My mother is currently associating with some undesirables who

are attempting to transform her into an athlete of sorts, depraved are attempting to transform her into an athlete of sorts, depraved specimens of mankind who regularly bowl their way to oblivion" specimens of mankind who regularly bowl their way to oblivion" (Toole, 1980, p 119).(Toole, 1980, p 119).

Complaint from board of health for playing with a cat:Complaint from board of health for playing with a cat: "I assure you that I have been the very soul of cleanliness. My "I assure you that I have been the very soul of cleanliness. My

intimate habits are above reproach. Carrying no social diseases, I intimate habits are above reproach. Carrying no social diseases, I don't see what I could possibly transmit to your hot dogs, that don't see what I could possibly transmit to your hot dogs, that they do not already have. Look at these fingernails." (Toole, 1980, they do not already have. Look at these fingernails." (Toole, 1980, p. 207)p. 207)

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Ignatius exhibits eight out of nine criteria Ignatius exhibits eight out of nine criteria mentioned in the DSM-IV-TR.mentioned in the DSM-IV-TR.

We did not find any strong examples of We did not find any strong examples of Ignatius exhibiting criteria number eight.Ignatius exhibiting criteria number eight. (8) is often envious of others or believes that (8) is often envious of others or believes that

others are envious of him or her.others are envious of him or her. Considering Ignatius exhibits more than Considering Ignatius exhibits more than

five of the criteria; It is our unprofessional five of the criteria; It is our unprofessional opinion that Ignatius suffers from opinion that Ignatius suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder.Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

ReferencesReferencesAmerican Psychiatric Association. (1994). American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic Diagnostic

and statistical manual of mental disorders (4and statistical manual of mental disorders (4thth ed.). ed.). Washington, DC: AuthorWashington, DC: Author

Dubin, William. Dubin, William. Generic psychotherapy. Generic psychotherapy. Retrieved Feb. Retrieved Feb. 24, 2008 from 24, 2008 from http://www.columbia.edu/~wd16/glossary.htmhttp://www.columbia.edu/~wd16/glossary.htm

Toole, J. K. (1980). Toole, J. K. (1980). A confederacy of duncesA confederacy of dunces. New York, . New York, NY: Grove PressNY: Grove Press

Upright, M. (2004). Upright, M. (2004). NarcissusNarcissus. Retrieved Feb. 22, 2008 . Retrieved Feb. 22, 2008 from from http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/grehttp://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.htmlek/articles.html

GGC Wiki page link:GGC Wiki page link:http://wiki.ggc.usg.edu/mediawiki/index.php/http://wiki.ggc.usg.edu/mediawiki/index.php/

PSYC3410_PsychopathologyPSYC3410_Psychopathology