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Peter Thompson
Ms. Kirkpatrick
AP/ECE English 12
October 9, 2015
More than an Insult: The Origins of the Stigma Pertaining to Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Contrary to popular belief, narcissistic personality disorder (or NPD) cannot be defined
as simply a negative quality to a persons character; it is really a significant mental illness that
has affected the lives of thousands of people across the globe. And just like many other mental
illnesses, narcissism comes with a stigma. The primary factor that damages the perception of
NPD is the common misconceptions of the general public, and their variety of negative beliefs
regarding the disorder, denigrating those who are afflicted with NPD. The media exacerbates the
stigma of this disorder to a minor extent when they equate other mental illnesses with violence.
NPDs stigma needs to be dispelled by alerting the public about the truth through public service
announcements on the international level.
One of the most damaging factors in the stigmatization of narcissism is how the general
public perceives it as frivolous, leading to their isolation and thorough disregard. In modern
society, many people are considered narcissistic if they appear to be overconfident or selfimportant. Many people quickly dismiss it as a relatively benign but unpleasant personality
characteristic, whereas it is actually a very serious disorder. For example, Lyon combats a variety
of misbeliefs on NPD, including that narcissism is basically never healthy for other people
(Lyon). Because people do not ordinarily understand the true significance of having a mental
illness such as NPD, they are led to the misunderstanding that it is no more than unhealthy selfregard rather than a serious mental illness.

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The unforgivingly negative connotation of NPD stems from the same misconception;
people only see an arrogant and socially awkward person when their personality truly originates
from a nationally recognized mental illness. People with NPD are exceptionally damaged by this
aspect of the stigma as it results in the ostracization and utter mistreatment by others. Most
people do not conduct in-depth research into mental illness or read the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders to be updated on their definitions. As a result, the prevalence and
definition of NPD is widely misconstrued. Malkin declares the current promiscuous use of the
term narcissist for every minor instance of self-absorption, however, trivializes that very real
pain (Malkin). Malkin summarizes the general beliefs of society regarding NPD: that it is
simply being overconfident or over-absorbed in oneself, which is very unsettling to those who
have to deal with real symptoms of a damaging illness.
Furthermore, the adaptation of the term narcissist to mean anyone who is slightly
arrogant has greatly insulted and damaged those with NPD by diluting the seriousness of their
illness. Because one of the symptoms of NPD relates to being unable to function with and value
others, people have taken to attributing any sign of arrogance to narcissism. In reality, it is a
much more drastic condition of behavior that has been classified by DSM V as a recognized
mental illness. Malkin asserts we muddy the waters by assuming narcissism is always bad
(Malkin), enhancing the idea that the stigma of NPD is primarily caused by the general public; in
fact, its stigma is rather unlike those of other mental illnesses in that it actually minimizing the
symptoms of a very severe disorder that is a massive hindrance to how a person operates in
society.
By failing to care for those who are in need of care and treatment through the invalidation
of NPD as a disease, the overall population is failing to meet the expectation that all humans

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should be helped and cared for. Under normal circumstances, moral obligations are readily
addressed by people who fund organizations that help the poor, assist in the development of
hospitals, or fight for political aid to the poor. However, no generosity is focused on those who
are suffering with these mental disorders. Because people with NPD are not viewed as having a
serious problem, little help is given to them. These people are perceived to be failing to achieve
their moral obligations. Because there is little care for those with NPD, people feel no need to aid
them.
People also perceive that mental illness should not warrant as much sympathy of physical
illness due to the lack of physical characteristics, creating the stigma attached to NPD from an
entirely different angle. As a result, people with NPD are left with no sympathy. Most people are
unaware of the significance of mental illness and that it is very similar to any physical illness. Its
association with how people act along with its lack of physical abnormalities creates a popular
opinion that these illnesses are much unlike physical illnesses and therefore somehow the victim
is to blame. However, these disorders just happen to be localized to the brain, rendering them just
as lethal. NPD does not gain the sympathy from the general public that it deserves, as these
people are missing that piece about caring about relationships (Lyon). Unfortunately, many
people are not aware of this fact, leading to the furthering of NPDs stigma. As a result, people
with NPD do not receive the help or sympathy they deserve.
The media exacerbates the stigma to a minute extent, mainly featuring NPDs association
with violent actions, eventually furthering the publics general opinion about the disorder. The
media often connotes a plethora of mental illnesses with violent acts, suggesting that recent
shootings were committed by those with mental illnesses. Contrarily, there is little statistical
evidence to support those reports, and in fact mentally ill people are more likely to be the victim

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of a violent crime than to commit it. However, the stereotype persists even today in the media.
When asked what group of people would be most likely to commit the next mass shooting,
Goldenberg discloses perhaps all people with certain mental illnesses such as schizophrenia,
autism or narcissistic personality disorder (Goldenberg) should be suspected. Goldenbergs
assumption may be unlike that of the public, and it may be an uncommon belief among the news,
but it still conveys the extent to which the media worsens the stigma of NPD. Overall, most TV
shows, movies or even books do not reference NPD in a bad light, let alone at all.
Media makes a dangerous association when they group NPD with other mental disorders
as these disorders are very different, which is heavily disrespectful to the person suffering with
the illness. Disorders like antisocial personality disorder, also known as sociopathy, have much
more dangerous implications in society. Despite these disorders being in the same spectrum, they
are quite varied in their symptoms. The group of personality disorders has an entire spectrum of
symptoms, behaviors, and possible treatments. To create the notion that these two disorders are
similar would be making a wild and incorrect assumption. Crane reaffirms that everyone has a
unique personality (Crane), supporting that no two disorders, or even any two people, are
similar in their personalities and actions.
However, NPD alone does not attract as much media attention, as a variety of other
mental illnesses are perceived to be more associated with violence; overall media is minimally
responsible for exacerbating the stigma of NPD compared to the general understanding in
society. The media often falls victim to the same fallacies as the general public, associating it
with crime, violence and murder. Media pays far less attention to NPD for the simple reason that
most people do not even understand its importance as a mental illness and its ability to change
someones entire social life. Instead, the media enhances societys perception of NPD by

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furthering the largely incorrect beliefs that NPD is hallmarked by simple arrogance and
overconfidence.
Clearly, there is an urgent need for a solution to NPDs stigma, and it can be eradicated
via the informing of the general public that NPD is more than arrogance, freeing those with NPD
from the harsh perception of the media and society. Crane confirms that people typically like
their own personality and that they are comfortable in their own skin (Crane), affirming that
in order for the stigma to be destroyed, the popular opinions and beliefs must be changed. Thus,
people must be informed of the changes that must be made. Giving everyone valuable
knowledge regarding NPD is the first step in eliminating the stigma. Everyone must know that,
in reality, these people are seriously ill and that their disorder is more than simply high selfesteem.
There are a variety of ways that information on NPD could be spread, the most
prospective being a series of public service announcements that air on television and are featured
in newspapers, alerting people to the truth about NPD and its sufferers. A vast portion of the
population will be exposed, covering the widest spectrum of people in an effort to increase
awareness. These PSAs could be manufactured quickly but creatively, and they could easily
spread across the globe. They can be produced on TV commercials, where they are exposed to a
wide spectrum of people. These PSAs could produce strong emotional appeals coupled with
undisputable facts, using a balanced and memorable argument to move a widely variable
audience. The monetary effect would also be minor, as these would be short (but still
provocative) advertisements or even small newspaper sections. The problem can easily be
addressed on a national (or even global) level. With vast amounts of information being projected

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across the world, the stigma of narcissistic personality disorder will be erased from the minds of
society.
The idea that NPD is just like any other illness in that sympathy and compassion are
required needs to be stressed in these announcements in the hope of eventually eliminating the
idea that having a mental illness is the persons fault completely. Having a mental illness is no
different from being diagnosed with a heart condition that hinders ones physical potential.
Despite NPDs limits on a humans social potential, one can hope that their potential be fulfilled.
Society must understand that having a mental illness should warrant just as much sympathy and
care, and that the treatment facilities for these mentally ill people have the same objectives as
those for the physically ill. In reality, mental illness is simply an injury to the mind, and it should
be treated as such in order for the stigma to be eliminated.
Overall, the stigmatization of NPD has a variety of origins, and it takes on a variety of
forms; but the only constant is that there is a valid need for the destruction of the stigma. In order
to dispel the stigma, awareness of NPD must rapidly and dramatically increase, and those who
are already aware of these facts must project their knowledge upon the population, in an effort to
validate the importance of NPD to many people. Those who have been diagnosed with NPD are
in great need of sympathy and deference, as the stigmatization of their disease has made these
qualities hard to find in modern society.

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Works Cited
Crane, Kristine. "When Your Personality Is What Ails You." US News. 21 Nov. 2014. Web. 28
Sept. 2015.
Goldenberg, Matthew. "Can We Pick out the Mass Shooters before They Kill?" Los Angeles
Times. 10 Sept. 2015. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
Lyon, Lindsay. "7 Myths About Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder." US News.
N.p., 21 Apr. 2009. Web. 5 Oct. 2015.
Malkin, Craig. "Why We Need to Stop Throwing the Narcissist Label Around." Psychology
Today. 12 Apr. 2015. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.

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Annotated Bibliography

Crane, Kristine. "When Your Personality Is What Ails You." US News. 21 Nov. 2014. Web. 28
Sept. 2015.

this article discusses not only the cause of personality disorder, but the stigma
attached to it. this article focuses on logical appeal but it also presents an ethical
side to the argument, by detailing how those afflicted with NPD feel about being
stigmatized in some situations. It discusses how the stigmatism of personality
disorder is prevalent in modern society. It uses a good amount of qualitative data.
Being from a news article that uses interviews from experts, it is very valid. Its
use of an appeal to authority helps support this validity.

Goldenberg, Matthew. "Can We Pick out the Mass Shooters before They Kill?" Los Angeles
Times. 10 Sept. 2015. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

this article provides a direct example of how the media portrays narcissistic
personality disorder incorrectly. It uses qualitative data to imply that NPD is
associated with violence, by creating an idea that victims of NPD would be a
primary group to invest in the search for the next violent shooter. this article is
valid since it is from a major newspaper, correctly portraying the opinions and
viewpoints of the media. this article uses scare tactics to explain the possibility of
another mass shooter, while falsely correlating mental illness with these violent
actions.

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Lyon, Lindsay. "7 Myths About Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder." US News.
N.p., 21 Apr. 2009. Web. 5 Oct. 2015.

this article presents its evidence in a very organized and easy-to-use fashion. The
article presents a series of misconceptions and combats them, explaining why they
are untrue using factual evidence. this articles validity is proven by its source, a
well-known news website. this article is also fairly recent, and it is applicable to
modern time. this article uses primarily logical appeal to explain its point of view;
that NPD is a vastly misunderstood disorder. It also evokes emotions of regret and
remorse by showing how people suffering from NPD are affected by this
misconception.

Malkin, Craig. "Why We Need to Stop Throwing the Narcissist Label Around." Psychology
Today. 12 Apr. 2015. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.

this article discusses the stigma surrounding narcissistic personality disorder. this
article uses qualitative data to convey its effect. It uses emotional appeal to
discuss the effects of stereotypes toward someone who is seriously diagnosed with
disorder. It uses ethical appeal as well, as it is morally wrong to treat someone this
way. Overall, this article has a fairly strong persuasive charge in conveying that
the stigma of narcissism is unhealthy. It features anecdotes from real life which
supports its validity as well. It supports how narcissistic people are portrayed and
treated badly by the media. It also does an excellent job in comparing societys
perception of narcissism to reality, a primary focus to this paper.

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Nauert, Rick. "Study Finds Men More Narcissistic than Women." PsychCentral. 5 Mar. 2015.
Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

this article discusses the effect of gender on narcissism and narcissistic personality
disorder. It uses quantitative and qualitative data fairly equally, and it also
describes why men are more narcissistic in a negative fashion. It uses a logical
appeal to describe the way that men are more arrogant and assertive in modern
society. this article uses concrete statistics from scientific studies, making it very
valid. Also, it supports my thesis by relating to the mistreatment and
misconception of narcissistic personality disorder. It provides an example of how
arrogance is associated with NPD when in reality there is more about this disease.