The Narcissistic Pursuit of Perfection

by Arnold Rothstein

Overview

This book views the role of narcissism in analytic theory beginning with the writings of Freud and examines the conceptual changes that occurred with the development of ego psychology and object relations theory. With this revised edition the author expands his discussion of patients considered to be narcissistic personality disordered in order to discuss the issue of clinical limits. This is illustrated by case material from two attempts at the analysis of patients with latent psychosis. Discussions of countertransference and humiliation have also been added.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367101671
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/05/2019
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition , Preface to First Edition , Theoretical Considerations , Narcissism , Narcissistic Personality Disorder , Entitlement, Self-Destructiveness, and the Fear of Humiliation , Countertransference , The Analyzability of Narcissistic Personality Disorders , Examples within the Classification , Levin and Kitty: Neurotic Narcissistic Personality and Normal Suppliant Personality Disorders , Stiva: An Entitled Hedonist , Dolly: A Depressed Neurotic Suppliant Personality Disorder , Vronsky: A Phallic-Narcissistic Character in Regression , Anna: A Stereotypical Female Narcissistic Personality Disorder , Aleksey Aleksandrovich: Narcissistic Investment in Bureaucratic Power , Sergey Ivanovich: Narcissistic Investment in Thinking , Narcissism and the Life Cycle , The Vicissitudes of Narcissism

Editorial Reviews

4 Stars! from Doody

The author attempts to expand, delineate, and describe narcissism in both its normal and abnormal development. Drawing upon the work of Freud, Wilhelm Reich, Annie Reich, Kohut, and Kernberg, among others, he uses literary descriptions by Tolstoy and Fowles as well as his own clinical material to make his theoretical points come to life for the reader. His purpose, to clarify the theory of narcissism, is of great importance as we approach the millennium, and he succeeds admirably in presenting his thesis. While the author's primary audience is the psychoanalytic practitioner, any therapist attempting to deal psychologically with narcissistic patients would do well to become familiar with the his argument. Based on his discussion of narcissism, the author suggests the need to consider both a narcissistic personality disorder, in which the predominant investment of narcissism is in self representation, as well as a suppliant personality disorder, in which the predominant mode of narcisstic investment is in object representation. These two types of investments can range from psychotic to neurotic to normal. The author's theoretical position deserves a wide dissemination, and should stand on the clinician's shelf next to the works of Kernberg and Kohut.

Edward A. Wolpert

Reviewer: Edward A. Wolpert, MD, PhD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: The author attempts to expand, delineate, and describe narcissism in both its normal and abnormal development. Drawing upon the work of Freud, Wilhelm Reich, Annie Reich, Kohut, and Kernberg, among others, he uses literary descriptions by Tolstoy and Fowles as well as his own clinical material to make his theoretical points come to life for the reader.
Purpose: His purpose, to clarify the theory of narcissism, is of great importance as we approach the millennium, and he succeeds admirably in presenting his thesis.
Audience: While the author's primary audience is the psychoanalytic practitioner, any therapist attempting to deal psychologically with narcissistic patients would do well to become familiar with the his argument.
Features: Based on his discussion of narcissism, the author suggests the need to consider both a narcissistic personality disorder, in which the predominant investment of narcissism is in self representation, as well as a suppliant personality disorder, in which the predominant mode of narcisstic investment is in object representation. These two types of investments can range from psychotic to neurotic to normal.
Assessment: The author's theoretical position deserves a wide dissemination, and should stand on the clinician's shelf next to the works of Kernberg and Kohut.

Doody's Review Service