tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post1877254118983301842..comments2024-02-22T02:15:01.912-08:00Comments on The Narcissistic Continuum: Narcissism Key: from healthy to pathologicalCZBZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-52663434614075014822018-10-17T22:53:05.158-07:002018-10-17T22:53:05.158-07:00I have read many of Peck's books. I remember ...I have read many of Peck's books. I remember he did mention infidelity & thought he felt remorseful. Don't think so anymore - disappointed to hear about how harmful he was to others & self.<br />CKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-41917365248548590772015-05-19T11:05:12.696-07:002015-05-19T11:05:12.696-07:00Dear CS,
You can't pretend with ACoNs. ACoNs ...Dear CS,<br /><br />You can't pretend with ACoNs. ACoNs spot pretenders in no time because if you didn't grow up in a narcissistic family, you won't understand the cumulative damage of "narcissistic abuse" (defined by Alice Miller, not popular appropriation of this term). <br /><br />There's an emotional depth of understanding that rings true in ACoN's writing. Our initial anger and hatred is to be expected, <i> though never normalized.</i> We cannot normalize behavior that is condemned in others, but justified for ourselves. This is where many ACoNs get stuck and blogs showing "movement and change" can lead people towards healthier more meaningful lives. <br /><br />You and several others have provided an alternative to the hate-mongering and fear-based sites proliferating on the web because web traffic is drawn to "extremists". I have learned (and hope other people have, too) that high traffic on the web, is not an indication of mental health. ;-P<br /><br />I have yes, devoted myself to understanding narcissism for a couple of reasons:<br /><br />1) to be a voice for academia, applying research to real-life experiences<br /><br />2) narcissism runs through my family; I married someone with "pathological narcissism"; I'm an ACoN<br /><br />You can't fake these facts. The only way to change the transgenerational transmission of narcissism is to learn, unlearn and relearn. <br /><br />Thanks for learning with me,<br />CZCZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-61435886690245061442015-05-19T10:42:14.343-07:002015-05-19T10:42:14.343-07:00You are very welcome! You are very welcome! CZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-43299560441080331962015-05-19T10:41:37.501-07:002015-05-19T10:41:37.501-07:00"Elsa and I are friends and colleagues at Har..."Elsa and I are friends and colleagues at Harvard--and I'm sure she'd love this site too."<br /><br />Dr. Elsa Ronningstam has been my go-to resource since 2005 when she published "Identifying and Understanding the Narcissistic Personality." Her work has guided my studies and hopefully, kept me honest in my attempts to facilitate online learning about narcissism-all-sorts. I would love it if she knew how influential her work has been to a self-help woman like myself! This is such a delight!!<br /><br />I appreciate your views about Twenge's work although I also sense society to be increasingly focused on agency, rather than community. Twenge and Campbell offered much food for thought in their book about "The Narcissism Epidemic", at least from a layperson's perspective. <br /><br />I will read your article in the Huffington Post and maybe write a response on my blog since it fits right in with my perspective of good parenting. Telling our kids they're nobodies, in an attempt to prevent unhealthy narcissism, is a sure-fire way to create it. Every child deserves to be the Apple of their Mother's Eye. CZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-87577681151600847022015-05-19T10:18:09.196-07:002015-05-19T10:18:09.196-07:00The Narcissistic Spectrum Scale will be a welcome ...The <b>Narcissistic Spectrum Scale</b> will be a welcome addition to the public's growing awareness about narcissism. At this point, people assume narcissism is a bad thing, a dangerous thing because "extreme narcissism" is easy to see, easy to condemn. The mistake is assuming anyone with recognizable narcissistic traits is dangerous to the workplace, the family, the neighborhood. <br /><br />I think that yes, there are dangerous narcissists who are more akin to psychopathy than "normal narcissism." And contrary to the popular view at this point, they are far fewer than people with unhealthy narcissism or destructive narcissism. The majority of people frequenting sites and blogs like mine, are not dealing with "extreme narcissists" although they fear they are because the information about narcissism has been so misleading and incomplete. There are a few lone voices like mine on the web and we usually deal with a rash of criticism for taking a broader perspective. The allegation being that we are setting people up for murder and abuse because we're minimizing the dangers of narcissistic traits/personality.<br /><br />So my hope is that your NSS will give people like myself some credibility. That your NSS will stop the No Contact Brigade from doing unconscionable things to people's lives (and their own!). My hope is that your NSS will be voice of sanity. <br /><br />There are, as you mentioned, cold, remorseless and abusive people who meet the categorical criteria for a NPD. This should not be the narrow measure for all people with narcissistic traits. A disservice has been done to the average person seeking information and help on the web, polarizing discussions to "either/or". Either you're a narcissist and deserving of horns and a pitchfork; or you're not and deserving of angel wings. ;-P <br /><br />Thank you for sending your research. It's been a long time coming.....and I'm grateful you let me know about your work!<br /><br />CZCZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-4305651827113652822015-05-19T07:16:03.760-07:002015-05-19T07:16:03.760-07:00and I wish we were able to correct our grammar/syn...and I wish we were able to correct our grammar/syntax typos, but alas we aren't allowed to edit comments!<br />Calibans Sisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04817489284771105048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-78250582080666155202015-05-19T07:13:17.527-07:002015-05-19T07:13:17.527-07:00Dr. Malkin, I agree that therapists/psychologists ...Dr. Malkin, I agree that therapists/psychologists and especially academic researchers into the subject of narcissism all along the spectrum, from the individual to the individual within the family, to that within micro-social environment, is a set of Russian nesting dolls. One aspect that has been left out of the vast majority of popular writing on the topic (of which I'd include Campbell and Twenge), is the lived experience of ACoNs. I'd read a library of scholarly books and articles on personality disorders. And on NPD, and HPD, and the overlaps. But nothing actually enabled me to internalize emotionally, affectively, what I understood cognitively, until I began reading reputable blogs about NPD. There are many that are mere exercises in personal griping. But this blog is the most balanced, rational-minded, well-researched, and genuinely altruistic of all that I came across four years when I started finding blogs. There are MANY ACoNs; one thing you'll discover is that as we write our personal stories, the superficial details all differ, but the patterns--of disregard, parental contempt, dismissal, neglect ("benign neglect" is an oxymoron), belittling, DARVOing (Denial Argument, Reverse Victim and offender) is nearly universal. Therapists have concentrated on blatant abuse, such as openly hostile verbal, physical and sexual abuse; but they have vastly misunderstand how deep the damage can be from the subtle forms of NPD. This blog, and several others, have helped to uncover that in great detail and depth of understanding. I'm an academic. And I can tell you that aside from Kohut, Kernberg, Martin Kantor (his book on Passive Aggression is a masterpiece), and Ronningstam, I have not encountered smarter, more nuanced writing on the subject that the compendium that is The Narcissistic Continuum. CZBZ has a done a major work of research here, and I'm thrilled to praise her for it. And delighted to see someone such as yourself, a fellow scholar, doing the same. CSCalibans Sisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04817489284771105048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-89151222130473002662015-05-18T12:00:27.065-07:002015-05-18T12:00:27.065-07:00And thank your for pre-ordering Rethinking Narciss...And thank your for pre-ordering Rethinking Narcissism! Dr. Craig Malkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052605524321145990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-31059406566608425122015-05-18T07:41:47.573-07:002015-05-18T07:41:47.573-07:00"But how does normal/unhealthy narcissism cre..."But how does normal/unhealthy narcissism create an unhappy life after years of self-serving behavior that was never too bad, never too outrageous to be defined as "pathological"? <br />Yes!! That's the question no one is addressing. I call these people subtle narcissists in my book. And I spend the majority of the parts one and two focused on who they are and how, if it all to reach them-- or leave when change isn't possible. <br /><br />I agree with CS, who, by the way, has an awesome handle (Shakespeare fan?). You'd put most therapists to shame with your knowledge.<br /><br />PS I trained with Andy Morrison--such a sweet man. He helped so many and I miss him dearly. Elsa and I are friends and colleagues at Harvard--and I'm sure she'd love this site too. <br /><br />I'm not a fan of Twenge's work. She's made a lot of two points on a scale (The NPI) that's more and more fallen out of favor (It's being replaced by the NARQ, which like our NSS, measures healthy and unhealthy narcissism more clearly). I don't believe there's enough evidence to declare a narcissism epidemic and certainly can't see how stereotyping an entire generation (negatively) will do anyone any good. <br />So wonderful connecting. <br />Here's my latest article critiquing that research that prompted the media to claim that praise "creates" narcissists. <br /><br /> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-craig-malkin/why-parental-praise-doesnt-create-narcissists----and-what-does_b_7251424.html?utm_hp_ref=twDr. Craig Malkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052605524321145990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-30925666828172511532015-05-18T07:27:06.011-07:002015-05-18T07:27:06.011-07:00Dear CZ--
I just typed you a lengthy reply but it ...Dear CZ--<br />I just typed you a lengthy reply but it disappeared on me :-(. Happily I have some time to try to duplicate it. <br /><br />I'm so flattered that you know my work, and I hope it's resonated for you. Interviews and articles are a hard format to convey the full range of my perspective. <br /><br />You've done an incredible job here. All your research has clearly paid off. If I'd known about you sooner, I'd have listed you as resource in Rethinking Narcissism. <br /><br />Too many forums and sites are fixated on malignant narcissism and seem devoted to convincing people that's the only kind there is. People who have to struggle with milder narcissists in their lives are left completely confused --and sadly--thoroughly stuck. They can't see their partners as monsters (because they're not), but they can't figure out when to call it quits because they're not facing physical and emotional abuse. There are simple ways of assessing hope for change (really for any relationship), and I lay them out in Rethinking Narcissism. I don't spend a lot of time on the question of whether or not cold, remorseless, abusive people can be reached because, even as a couples therapist, I won't see partners together when there's ongoing abuse, no matter what the cause. <br /><br />You're right that scoring low on the NPI isn't necessarily healthy. It means saying no to questions like "I am assertive" and a range of behaviors we should all embrace sometimes. Healthy narcissism deficits have been overlooked and that's why I developed the Narcissism Spectrum Scale. We'll have research up at this link soon www.chsbs.cmich.edu/NSS. In the mean time, I'll privately send you some results in email. <br /><br />So glad to connect with you and I hope to have time to thoroughly digest your wonderful site and even check out the forum. <br /><br />Take care,<br />Craig<br /><br />Dr. Craig Malkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052605524321145990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-64481019169233331012015-05-17T15:07:59.199-07:002015-05-17T15:07:59.199-07:00Thank you, CS. Your recognition means a great deal...Thank you, CS. Your recognition means a great deal to me. Though my online time has been limited because of extenuating circumstances, there's still nothing I enjoy more than curling up in bed with new book about narcissism. And now that we've expanded this idea to include "normal narcissism", it's even more fascinating.<br /><br />How does normal but exaggerated narcissism function in a narcissistic society? Are we more easily persuaded by media role models if our narcissism is unhealthy? What about moral development if we're narrowly focused on ourselves? Society reinforces the notion of self-admiration/gratification even at the expense of others. <br /><br />Learning about NPD is a necessary precaution for people who are dealing with pathological relationships. They will be harmed. It's inevitable. But what's even more fascinating is how narcissism affects our development as individuals, as moral human beings. Pathology is not hard to define because the behavior trespasses social boundaries and limits. But how does normal/unhealthy narcissism create an unhappy life after years of self-serving behavior that was never too bad, never too outrageous to be defined as "pathological"? <br /><br />These are the questions keeping me awake at night. ha...jest kiddin'<br /><br />Maybe Dr. Malkin's book will offer some insight and understanding. I'm looking forward to it.<br /><br />Hugs,<br />CZCZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-78364447346092213412015-05-17T14:53:04.643-07:002015-05-17T14:53:04.643-07:00If you prefer, you can contact me by email here:
...If you prefer, you can contact me by email here:<br /><br /><b>wonmanagers@yahoo.com</b>CZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-37046436966910186882015-05-17T14:50:23.025-07:002015-05-17T14:50:23.025-07:00Hello Dr. Malkin! I am familiar with your work and...Hello Dr. Malkin! I am familiar with your work and am totally surprised and flattered by your comment. As a layperson, it means a great deal to have a respected psychologist recognize the depth of my studies. While I have a "nose" for research, not everyone has the time, interest or the patience to delve into academic papers and theoretical books. It's just one of my quirks. If I'm gonna write about narcissism, I oughta do the hard work of understanding it.<br /><br />My initial focus was listening to people and offering validation while they restored their lives from the "inevitable harm" of a pathological relationship. My original intent has expanded to the narcissism continuum: how each of us is affected by a society obsessed with celebrity worship and self-gratification. <br /><br />About Your Test<br /><br />Many of the people reading my blog, have extremely low scores on the NPI. Some have assumed this low score meant they were healthy because narcissism was associated with pathology. In other words, the lower their score, the healthier they believed themselves to be. I'm not sure that's true. I am very interested your new measure of narcissism, most especially "echoism." <br /><br />In the event you read this comment, would you mind posting a link to your research, if it's available? I would love to read it before your book is released in July. (which I pre-ordered). <br /><br />Take Care and I do hope you have time to visit again soon!<br /><br />CZCZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-89274338091988058842015-05-17T11:36:40.720-07:002015-05-17T11:36:40.720-07:00This blog is virtually a scholarly library on NPD,...This blog is virtually a scholarly library on NPD, available for anyone to research in. CZBZ has done more reading and thinking and writing on NPD than most therapists and academic psychologists, aside perhaps from Ronningstam, Campbell and Twenge. As someone who has been greatly helped by her writing, resources, and friendship, I'm also very happy to see this comment here. Calibans Sisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04817489284771105048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-55447096824122313412015-05-17T09:29:13.971-07:002015-05-17T09:29:13.971-07:00Wow! I can't believe I haven't found this ...Wow! I can't believe I haven't found this site before (too busy buried in academic research, I guess). <br /><br />I just want to compliment you on what an impressive job you've done compiling and translating all the research. Truly amazing. I love the graphic for the continuum with the NPI score! You've brought nuance and depth to an often polarizing subject, and I've no doubt the information here helps a huge number of people. I notice you posted my huff interview--not my favorite one, since I never really got to say we were discussing high spectrum narcissists or even what that meant. Ah well.<br /><br />I've got a book coming soon, happy to share more if you're interested, but just wanted to pop in and say hello and thank you for this resource. I plan to check out the forum soon (a little slammed). <br /><br />PS--my colleagues and I developed a new measure for narcissism which includes both healthy narcissism (really healthy self-enhancment as I'm sure you're aware--a line of research Kohut would have loved!) and the lack of healthy narcissism, which we call echoism) I've reconfigured the spectrum to run from 0, the inability to enjoy feeling special in any way (necessary for secure attachment) through healthy narcissism (the center) to 10 (malignant narcissism). Results have been great--and validity findings have been much clearer than the NPI. <br /><br />Hope to visit more soon! Take care, Craig MalkinDr. Craig Malkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052605524321145990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-75410453505855812622014-05-28T01:19:46.815-07:002014-05-28T01:19:46.815-07:00Thanks for these great posts and articles. It deep...Thanks for these great posts and articles. It deepens my understanding of my relation that has been killing me for so long. <br /><br />Many people I have had contact with have said that psychopaths and narcissists are the same crap, and that they are soulless, but I always sensed the fragile self under the layers and layers of armor of my partner and your writing gives my own feelings about it credibility. <br /><br />That my partner has severe destructive narcisstic traits and she is probably bordering to NPD is very clear to me. For instance, she scored ~25 in an online NPI test, based on her own replies to questions I asked over a period of time and the emotional roller coaster I have been going through tells the tale. <br /><br />I have however come to the conclusion that I (as a bit of a co-dependant person) will never be able to survive in the environment caused by this Jekyll/Hyde-persona, but at least I start to understand the mechanisms. <br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />PS: And I do agree on the font ;)Misconductnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-17273959213804490412014-05-27T13:58:40.145-07:002014-05-27T13:58:40.145-07:00I so enjoy rational interlocutors challenging Kohu...I so enjoy rational interlocutors challenging Kohut's theory of age-inappropriate narcissism. ;-P<br /><br />Have you read Kohut? He provides a way to understand developmental delays, the places we get stuck in our narcissistic muck over a lifetime of experiences. My comment about "Leapfrogging to old age" refers to each person's individual maturation in a committed relationship. They are not in sync all the time, thus the idea of "leapfrogging." And sometimes one person goes as far as they can go in which case the relationship might end---a risk we take when agreeing to partner with someone. <br /><br />Before psychobabble dominated conversations, we used to tell our kids: "Marry someone who can grow up with you." Great advice but I don't think there's any way to determine that ahead of time. <br />CZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-86789841342492703212014-05-26T22:31:08.078-07:002014-05-26T22:31:08.078-07:00This unhealthy, age-inappropriate narcissism frust...This unhealthy, age-inappropriate narcissism frustrates intimate relationships, especially when partners aren't in sync, leapfrogging their way to old age.<br /><br />"Age-inappropriate" is bullshit because you cannot derive an ought from an is. Furthermore it is subjective. The emotional age is different, which means the ability to cope with emotional distress.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10850310869587131120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-23776552224349040412014-01-20T19:36:46.009-08:002014-01-20T19:36:46.009-08:00Hi TR!
Scrolling down to the specific information...Hi TR!<br /><br />Scrolling down to the specific information is the intended method for using this graph! It would have been really cool if I could have linked descriptions in the graph but that's way beyond my technical expertise. <br /><br />If you or anyone has suggestions or questions, please don't hesitate asking. <br /><br />Hugs to you, too!<br />CZ<br />CZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-71499447905278509692014-01-20T19:31:16.377-08:002014-01-20T19:31:16.377-08:00Thank you for your support, Kara!
Love
CZThank you for your support, Kara! <br /><br />Love<br />CZCZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-28492266995695883222014-01-15T04:31:55.622-08:002014-01-15T04:31:55.622-08:00Hi CZ,
Thank you for putting this together. This ...Hi CZ,<br />Thank you for putting this together. This is really helpful and I am bookmarking because I know I will come back to it. I'm analytical and the visual aid was helpful in keeping all the descriptions in order. I kept going back to the bigger picture in it and then drilling down to the details with your posts that go into more detail. <br /><br />The other way this is extremely helpful for me personally is the conversations I have with DH. When I use the word narcissism to describe my FOO he sees no problem with using the 'N' word but as soon as I use with his FOO he thinks they are bad people. And I often have to remind him there is a range because he sees the extremeness of my mother (where I put her between destructive and pathological) as equating to his friends, and that isn't the case. I am going to show him this post and I hope the thought and research and clarity will help in our discussions about how to deal with our FOO and friends.<br /><br />This brought clarity to my own narcissism and understanding it better and what work I will need to make in developing healthy narcissism.<br /><br />Thank you so much. I'm bookmarking this over at IBC. <br /><br />Hugs, TR TRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532757489135750861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-40158827925156921382013-12-22T04:40:19.983-08:002013-12-22T04:40:19.983-08:00Sorry for belated catch-up here CZ! I will be ver...Sorry for belated catch-up here CZ! I will be very interesting to hear about Peck's personal life. I hope you'll review the book when you can. The Kumare documentary interested me because Vikram Gandhi had to reveal who he really was, he was so torn up about it. It made me realize though that people are so desperate for someone to make them feel "seen" or "heard," that they'll project it on anyone who presents to them as a screen, the way that those poor baby monkeys in the experiment clung to terrycloth 'mothers' on wire. It's so deeply sad, people feel so very alone, even when surrounded by those who supposedly love them. It IS evident that many "new age" leaders are pathological narcissists. I can watch any of those PBS documentaries anymore that they run during "pledge-drives": the Wayne Dyer crap, the all those 'health' 'experts.' Thank god Vikram Gandhi had the graciousness to stick with his project and not ever ever forget that he was playing "Elmer Gantry." And I agree with you, if Peck acted like a narcissist, hurt his children and treated people in his life like crap, that does give one pause. He lost me with the exorcism rituals crap; but his description of "people of the lie" still has a lot of usefulness, just like some of the infamous Sam Vaknin (your best bud-- :-) ) has had some useful things to say, even though he's utterly preposterous as a person. xo CSCalibans Sisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04817489284771105048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-73431468687449393152013-12-18T11:09:07.612-08:002013-12-18T11:09:07.612-08:00Hi CZ,
I'm going to need to read this a few ti...Hi CZ,<br />I'm going to need to read this a few times to get my head round it ;) It's a brilliantly compiled comprehensive guide to the whole spectrum of Narcissism. I really appreciate the (huge) amount of work you put into it. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.<br />Love,<br />Kara xxKarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470007362954479373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-20588240846171140272013-12-11T19:50:21.188-08:002013-12-11T19:50:21.188-08:00It was a hugely big piece of work, yes. It has sum...It was a hugely big piece of work, yes. It has summed up years of study, collecting my links in a usable fashion that has already helped me. I hope it will be of benefit to others, too! Thank you for commenting, CS. I appreciate so much, your validation AND your gracious appreciation. <br /><br />Love<br />CZCZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801485432556979796.post-33268502854607235062013-12-11T19:46:48.332-08:002013-12-11T19:46:48.332-08:00YES! I watched Kumare on Netflix. What interested ...YES! I watched Kumare on Netflix. What interested me the most were Kumare's followers, their belief in him as a guru awakening parts of themselves that had always been there--even if their guru was a liar and/or hypocrite. What WE bring to the relationship changes our lives and usually good people are grateful, attributing their insight and competence to the guru. Unfortunately, some of those gurus believe their own press.<br /><br />The book on Peck's personal life finally showed up in the mail. I bought a used copy so it took forever get it. I can't possibly get to it for another month. <br /><br />I like investigations into people's behavior when they purport to be wise and leader-ish, tru-ish and all things authentic. I am particularly interested in New Age leaders (or New Wage as Cosmic Connie puts it) since so damn many of these folks have turned out to be full-fledged narcissists. They say one thing and do another, putting themselves above the rules of common morality. The people who admire New Age Gurus, even emulating them as some kind of super powers, are part of the problem. <br /><br />The way Peck went on and on about evil, made me wonder if he weren't "splitting", casting narcissists into the bad/evil category while he himself had specific narcissistic traits that he must have hated in himself. Projecting maybe? No offense to anyone who adores Scott Peck but seriously, you can't act like a narcissist and not be one. That's my big deep thought for the day, ha! <br />CZBZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575206236892096611noreply@blogger.com