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also: Philosophy & Psychology

Narcissism

Excessive self-focus or self-love, often at the expense of others.

Origin

Coined from Narcissus and turned into a clinical term by Freud and later personality theorists. The condition (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) is now a fixture of online amateur psychology.

Modern usage

Used clinically, casually, and accusatorially โ€” sometimes precisely, often as a generic insult for a self-important person.

In the wild

The book diagnosed an entire generation with narcissism.โ€” media commentary

Tags

psychology
self

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