Narcissism

Primary narcissism, the love of one's self, is necessary before one is capable of relating to or loving others. This self-love is inhibited in its development if a child does not feel loved by its parents and results in lack of self esteem in later life. In secondary narcissism there is an inability to be aware of the world as apart from one's self; the omnipotence and grandiosity being the distorted image of the relationship the child felt he should have had with his parents. Healthy narcissistic development, the concentrating of time and effort on developing ideals, values and aims in life, is a continuing necessity for individuation.