Social Motivation and Object Relations: Narcissism and Interpersonal Self-Esteem Regulation

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511735066.020

18 - Social Motivation and Object Relations: Narcissism and Interpersonal Self-Esteem Regulation

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010

Frederick Rhodewalt

Edited by

Joseph P. Forgas ,

Kipling D. Williams and

Simon M. Laham

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Frederick Rhodewalt: Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Utah
Joseph P. Forgas: Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Sydney
Kipling D. Williams: Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Sydney
Simon M. Laham: Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Sydney

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

The construct of narcissism has enjoyed a long but controversial history in clinical psychology (Akhtar & Thompson, 1982; Cooper, 1959; Rhodewalt & Sorrow, 2002). In this literature, narcissism is viewed as a rich and complex personality disorder organized around the core characteristic of pathological self-love. Paradoxically, narcissistic self-love does not exist in an intrapsychic vacuum but rather is played out within the individual's interpersonal relationships. Thus, for the narcissist, social motivation involves interacting with others for the purpose of self-esteem maintenance or enhancement. The narcissist's dependence on others for a sense of self-worth and validation is the focus of this chapter.

The issue of social motivation has long been at the heart of psychoanalytic models of narcissism. Despite the fact that there has been considerable debate about causes and manifestations of the disorder, the major psychodynamic theorists appear to agree that adult narcissism results from a childhood history of problematic interpersonal relationships. As adults, narcissists possess grandiose self-concepts that incorporate a conflicted psychological dependence on others. For example, Kohut (1971) proposed that normal development of the self occurs through interactions with others who provide the child with opportunities to gain approval and enhancement and simultaneously allow the child to identify with positive or perfect models. When significant others (parents) fail to provide these opportunities or are unempathetic, children undergo developmental arrest in which they childishly view the social world as being there to fulfill their needs.

Type: Chapter
Information: Social Motivation
Conscious and Unconscious Processes
, pp. 332 - 350

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511735066.020 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2004

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