Sigmund Freud understood narcissism to be a psychological defense mechanism whereby an individual focuses on their sense of accomplishments, needs, and personal attributes to fulfill their ego. Excessive self-involvement often arises from inadequacy or insecurity and manifests in many ways. In most cases, an individual can display a heightened sense of self-importance and a desire for attention and admiration from others. In light of this, individuals are often unable to empathize with the needs and feelings of others.
Dynamics of Narcissism
Freud argued that ego developed in infancy during the oral stage when a person is developing psychosexually. In this stage, the individual is overly self-centered and believes the world revolves around them, especially if their needs and desires are continuously fulfilled by the respective caregiver (Lone, 2019). However, as the person ages, the feelings of self-centeredness begin dissipating. This scenario arises when the child realizes that things do not always conform to their wishes. However, this general observation gave Freud the idea that individuals are born with narcissism, which is essential for normal development.
Additionally, Freud observed that narcissism in relation to libido could be categorized into two. In the infancy stage, the libidinal energy was focused on the newly established ego. Hence, the energy could be regarded as ego-libido. At the same time, the ego instincts, focusing on the need for self-preservation, and the sex instincts, centered on preserving species, were inseparable. The self-love resulting from ego-libido became known as primary narcissism (Rees, 2020). Freud believed that it was necessary for proper development. However, the ego merged with libidinal energy and sought external objects to direct its energy on as the child aged. The theory also suggests that this separation of instincts is why having sex and having a meal become separate experiences for adults instead of being combined in the primary narcissistic stage of development.
Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, which proposes that much of human behavior is determined by unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires, has been heavily criticized for several reasons. One of the main criticisms of the theory is that it is difficult to test scientifically. The idea that early childhood experiences shape adult personality is difficult to prove, as it relies on retrospective analysis and can be affected by many variables like memory biases. Many critics have also argued that the theory relies on unproven assumptions about the mind’s nature and the unconscious’s role (Traylor et al., n.d). Another criticism of Freud’s theory is that it is considered sexist, as it suggests that women who do not accept traditional societal roles are somehow psychologically flawed. Some critics argue that the psychoanalytic approach is too deterministic. The argument suggests that all behavior is determined by unconscious desires and past experiences, leaving little room for free will.
In summary, narcissism is a normal part of human development and refers to an individual’s focus on self-esteem and self-importance. Freud believed that at a particular stage in development, the ego directs libidinal energy (or sexual energy) inward, causing the individual to focus on their own needs and accomplishments to fulfill their ego. This type of narcissism is sometimes referred to as “primary narcissism.” It is considered a normal development and is typically outgrown as the individual matures.
References
Lone, Z. (2019, September 20). Freud and the nature of narcissism. Psych Central. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://psychcentral.com/pro/freud-and-the-nature-of-narcissism#1
Rees, W. (2020). We Other Narcissists: Self-love in Freud and culture. Textual Practice, 36(6), 889–908. https://doi.org/10.1080/0950236x.2020.1839956
Traylor, J., Overstreet, L., & Lang, D.(n.d.). Psychodynamic Theory: Freud. Press Books. https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/individualfamilydevelopment/chapter/freuds-psychodynamic-theory/
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