narcissism

Definition

A self-centered personality trait in which the person is infatuated with their own characteristics and image that are idealized while others and their differences are devalued in comparison (unless sameness kindles spectacular affinity that forms a rerouting of one's self-love, i.e. the person can see themselves in the other).

Etymology

From obsolete German Narzissismus (now Narzissmus by haplology), from Narziss (“Narcissus”) + -ism. By surface analysis, Narciss(us) (“character in Greek mythology who became obsessed with his own reflection”) + -ism.

Example Sentences

• "Although the researchers found that, on average, narcissism gradually declined as people aged, “the results show that this decline is not as large as one might hope,” said Ulrich Orth, the lead author of the paper and a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Bern in Switzerland."

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