Conflicts, Defenses and the Stability of Narcissistic Personality Features

• Published in: Psychiatry (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 310 - 330
• Main Authors: Perry, Jonathan D. C., Perry, J. Christopher
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 01.12.2004; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antisocial Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Antisocial Personality Disorder - epidemiology; Borderline Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Borderline Personality Disorder - epidemiology; Conflict; Conflict (Psychology); Defence; Defense Mechanisms; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders - diagnosis; Mood Disorders - epidemiology; Narcissism; Narcissistic personality disorder; Personality disorders; Personality Disorders - diagnosis; Personality Disorders - epidemiology; Personality Disorders - psychology; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychiatry; Psychological tests; Schizotypal Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Schizotypal Personality Disorder - epidemiology; Stability
• ISSN: 0033-2747; 1943-281X
• DOI: 10.1521/psyc.67.4.310.56570

Perry and Perry test hypotheses about dynamic conflicts and defenses associated with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), and examine the stability of the narcissistic interpersonal style over two to five years of follow-up. Result shows that NPD features were positively associated with the psychodynamic conflicts of rejection of others, ambition-achievement, dominant goal, resentment over being thwarted by others, and counterdependence.