inverted narcissism.
Transcending the cycle.
The term “narcissist” calls to mind a flamboyant gay Republican offending the left to gain maximum attention. People love him or hate him, but everyone has an opinion on him. After the initial shock, disgust, and excitement dies down, people discover there was no substance to the carnival show.
Narcissists are not a different species, but they exist at the far end of a personality continuum that we all inhabit. Many people enjoy getting attention, praise, and approval. People are titillated by the idea of “going viral.” If this post got millions of views, I would be ecstatic. That is true even if there were no material benefit or specific goal in mind. I am attracted to the idea of being famous, popular, and well-liked. I would describe this as “extroverted narcissism.”
There might be a healthy range of narcissism. People who have no narcissism whatsoever can be socially anxious or even anti-social. They might be afraid of public speaking, or shy to approach others, or hesitate to stand up for things they believe in. In Christianity, narcissism has been demonized as the sin of pride, as opposed to humility. However, as a practical matter, if Jesus wasn’t comfortable gaining the attention of a crowd, how would he have preached his ministry?
But there is another kind of narcissism, which I would call “inverted narcissism.” This kind of narcissism is not flashy or obvious. Instead, it is directed inward. The best way to understand inverted narcissism is to replace the term narcissism with “self-obsession.” That simple semantic shift reveals the nature of the disease.
Inverted narcissism is at the heart of all moralistic religions. Inverted narcissists are self-obsessed about their own thoughts, their own feelings, their history and their relationship with the Superego. They scrutinize themselves endlessly, to a degree that is sometimes comedic, but other times is tragic. This self-scrutiny results in pent up moral rage which is eventually released in a hysterical panic.
Fetishes are a product of inverted narcissism.
