In defence of narcissism

[Pica Pica]

A very interesting article about the importance of self-love, especially as a safe jumping off point for loving others.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19876494

[justmeinoz]

I guess if you don't know how to love yourself warts and all, there is little chance of getting it right with someone else. 

[AbraCadabra]

Oh wow... do we get our terminology screwed up here.

Narcissism IS love of self (only) i.e. to the exclusion of all else.

To consider this a "jumping off point" to love others seems to defy its actual definition.

In fact it is the VERY inability to love others but only oneself that makes out the condition.

Please correct me if I'm wrong,

Axélle

[Padma]

Well, the article isn't making a case for narcissism (as the neurosis) as an end in itself - more the perhaps obvious-to-us point that if you don't start out in life feeling loved and loveable, it's harder to end up being loving and loved in later life. And that being loving and loved is a risk worth taking, no matter how hard or scary the effort involved.

[AbraCadabra]

Well, the article isn't making a case for narcissism (as the neurosis) as an end in itself - more the perhaps obvious-to-us point that if you don't start out in life feeling loved and loveable, it's harder to end up being loving and loved in later life. And that being loving and loved is a risk worth taking, no matter how hard or scary the effort involved.

Hum, loving oneself sans the neurosis (narcissism) will in deed make a nice path for loving others.
Yet becoming a neurotic (narcissist) I truly have my doubts being of ANY help what so ever, to be able to love others.

A narcissist is essentially a "taker" in constant search and need for "givers" to feed his/her neurosis.

This far my knowing,
Axélle

[Brooke777]

I think this is a very interesting article, and rings true in so many forms. Infants, and young children do only think about themselves. But, once they start growing and developing, if they are in the correct environment, are able to learn to love others.

[Christine]

I guess if you don't know how to love yourself warts and all, there is little chance of getting it right with someone else.

That is so true.

[Pica Pica]

I thought it an interesting pulling together from many sources. I reckon it means narcissism in a more classical than modern psychological sense.

[AbraCadabra]

I thought it an interesting pulling together from many sources. I reckon it means narcissism in a more classical than modern psychological sense.

If Narcissus was not 'classical' being Greek mythology... than what could be more classical than that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology)

Axélle

[Pica Pica]

Yes, but like a lot of other Classical texts, like oedipus and electra, the meaning has been changed by psychology. What I meant was that the article was using the term in that classical way rather than it's more modern incarnations.

[barbie]

A very interesting article about the importance of self-love, especially as a safe jumping off point for loving others.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19876494

The dialectics of love. An interesting article.

Barbie~~