Understanding Narcissists: How to Cope with Destructive People in Your Life

This book identifies the behaviors and attitudes reflective of excessive self-interest and self-centered people and provides a framework for reducing the negative effects that these individuals have on their family, friends, and colleagues. This book will guide readers to understand the various indices of observable and destructive narcissistic behaviors and attitudes that are exhibited in everyday interactions with self-inflated people, focusing on the larger societal impacts of those behaviors. Further, the text makes suggestions for effectively managing the negative impact of the Destructive Narcissistic Pattern (DNP), which includes such attributes as anger and shame, and instructs readers how to grow and develop Healthy Adult Narcissism (HAN) consisting of empathy, wisdom, humor, and zest. This book differs from others on the same topic by illustrating the various ways that excessive self-esteem is portrayed in the media as well as presenting the perspective that there are many different ways to exhibit the varied self-inflated, self-centered behaviors and attitudes in everyday adult behaviors and relationships. By the end, this text aims to encourage healthy valuations of self and others that create a sense of purpose; personal satisfaction; and enduring, meaningful relationships.

Table of Contents:
Preface Chapter 1 The Destructive Narcissistic Pattern Chapter 2 DNP Actions: Exploitation and Manipulation Are Their Norms Chapter 3 The Model and Healthy Adult Narcissism: DNP Types Chapter 4 Grandiosity and the Impoverished Self Chapter 5 Exploitation and Entitlement Chapter 6 Extensions of Self: Attention-Seeking Behavior Chapter 7 Admiration-Hungry Behavior, Unique and Special Attitude and Shallow Emotions Chapter 8 Lack of Empathy, Emptiness, and Envy Chapter 9 Why They Are So Successful: Coping Strategies Chapter 10 Working or Living with Someone with a DNP Chapter 11 Healthy Adult Narcissism References Index

About the Author :
Nina W. Brown, EdD, is professor and eminent scholar at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.

Review :
Dr. Brown's expertise on the topic of the destructive narcissistic pattern provides the reader with both an exceptional learning tool and self-help book. The book's provocative style makes for an engaging read. Using scales, examples, opportunities for reflection, humor, a 12 Step Action Plan, and detailed reflective writing exercises, the reader is provided a clear path to coping with a person with DNP. In this beautifully accessible book, Dr. Nina Brown broadens and deepens a frequently discussed and poorly understood phenomenon: the destructive narcissistic pattern. Her work is overflowing with a wide range of specific, vividly rendered, real-world examples which helps the reader to grasp hold of slippery, notoriously difficult to describe experiences. After identifying and putting words to different forms of the underlying destructive narcissistic pattern, she offers practical strategies to cope when leaving an ongoing interpersonal relationship is off the table. This book is a vital and necessary resource for our time. This is a must read for those who are interested in psychological insights into the high profile media coverage of celebrity bribes and the cover-up of sexual abuse and government official misconduct. Brown does a superb job of describing the attitudes and behavior of the destructive narcissistic pattern and how we can become unwittingly ensnared in both work and relationships. Understanding is linked with hope in how we can moderate and even disentangle ourselves and strive for healthy narcissism.