Homo sapiens, according to Fromm, have varying degrees of narcissism. For example, Alexander, Caligula, Borgias, Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler,Washington, Jefferson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, and Freud can be characterized and described by their degrees of narcissism. Some have malignant narcissism while others have ”normal.” This essay describes narcissism with implications.
Freud made extraordinary contributions to our understanding of human motivation. Narcissism is just one example . It assists in explaining nationalism, national hatred and the psychological motivations for destructiveness and war. Since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the peril to mankind has become more real ,serious and imminent.
Primary narcissism is described as the fetus , which is in an absolute state of narcissism. And, with birth is without perception of object; but through development experiences and encounters objects, object love and the “law. “ Then ,in that state of secondary narcissism, he’s able to distinguish “me and not me”and then "object”love and hate. In other words, with normal development ,narcissism evolves from absolute primary narcissism to “normal” secondary narcissism. In the state and development of secondary narcissism , there’s a capacity for objective reasoning ,object love and becoming socially acceptable. Remember, the newborn cannot distinguish between” I and not I.”
Rulers with malignant narcissism have obtained ultimate and unsurpassed power . Their word becomes the judgment for all,and does not limit their capacity to get what they want , when they want it . And, with malignant narcissism, they became more paranoid , more isolated , more frightened and with more people becoming their enemy. As a defense , they increased their power with their controlling,sadistic and ruthless actions. Everyone had to agree and assist these rulers within their narcissistic reality. They became like a God , and in the process ,took away freedom from others.
The individual with malignant narcissism has difficulty perceiving the reality of others . In other words,their preoccupation is with their own self with little or no interest or empathy for others. For example, a government shutdown has negative consequences for so many others.
Individual narcissism can be and is transferred, into group narcissism-the clan, tribe, flag, nation, religion,and race become objects of a narcissistic passion. Simply put, psychic energy of a narcissistic individual is maintained but’s now used for the interests for their survival within the group rather than for employing narcissism for the survival of themselves .
The pathology of malignant narcissism is the distortion of rational judgment . And, one's attached object becomes perceived as being the most valuable, best, good, beautiful, supreme and wise. Narcissistic value judgments are also distorted, prejudiced and biased. They are psychologically employed to transform that distortion of reality to fit and fulfill their own narcissism..For example,he’s the greatest, kindest and the best president ever.
Another form of malignant group narcissism becomes evident when the government lacks or purposely withholds necessary resources to provide adequately for the majority of its members. When that occurs, the narcissistic ruling group must provide their followers with some form of narcissistic satisfaction, especially if it wants to prevent dissatisfaction among them. They accomplish that by claiming the leader is superior to the other group which is bad, evil, non patriotic and cheaters- they stole that election .With that messaging,narcissistic pride becomes significant because by belonging to the group that becomes the only effective or major source of satisfaction and pride for these vulnerable folks .
Regarding racial narcissism, the “ malignant” group claims to have racial superiority with an inflated image of itself and proclaim that it is the most admirable, powerful , just,loyal and exceptional religion in the world . And ,in fact ,this religion is superior to all other racial groups as the others are inferior. In other words, even if I am poor, uncultured, uneducated, I can become somebody important because I belong to the most admirable and significant religious group in the world.
These malignant narcissistic groups preach love of country, love of God and with “consensus” everybody's narcissism becomes inflated and reasonable. Their messages and propaganda have nothing to do with reason, but consensus. The group’s narcissistic attachment may be a blood group with a common language. In essence ,group narcissism can be malignant and just like individual narcissism.
Historically speaking, when the Catholics and Protestants battled in their 30 year war, they both spoke of love of God, love of Christ, read the same Bible, yet they hated each other. Each group said and believed they were admirable and the other was despicable. We are good, they are evil. This narcissistic group pattern has been repeated with hatred between the French and the Germans, the whites and the blacks, Aryans and non-Aryans, communism and/or socialism and capitalism and science and non-science.
Briefly, malignant individual and group narcissism can destroy our 250 year old experiment with democracy. Their goal is to divide,and to conquer , but not based on the Constitution, rule of law , teachings found in the Old and New Testament, or with reason and objectivity . There are too many individuals not prospering within this unequal capitalistic culture and society. Thus, emotionally, many are vulnerable psychologically. Being vulnerable emotionally, economically, intellectually, and socially, threatens one's narcissistic self and therefore requires an inflated boost for survival. Joining a group with consensus is an attempt to fulfill one's deficits. And ,with the malignant narcissistic sadistic leader with his anti-social tendencies ,threatens democracy and freedom for everyone except the wealthy technology gurus and other wealthy .. And , in short, we are headed in the direction of the point of no return as the “ Divided States of America .”
Reference
Fromm.Erich. The Heart of Man Its genius for good and evil.
