Narcissist is defined as a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.
Of course, this is a small piece of the puzzle when discussing a narcissist in the divorce setting. Most clients take the much bigger approach than the simple Webster definition, and rely on the medical approach.
Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. But behind this mask of extreme confidence, they are not sure of their self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism.
A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial matters. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they’re not given the special favors or admiration that they believe they deserve. They may find their relationships troubled and unfulfilling, and other people may not enjoy being around them.
Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder centers around talk therapy, also called psychotherapy.
Narcissistic personality disorder affects more males than females, and it often begins in the teens or early adulthood. Some children may show traits of narcissism, but this is often typical for their age and doesn’t mean they’ll go on to develop narcissistic personality disorder.
A true narcissist also lacks empathy for others. OFTEN in a divorce, one or both party will exhibit narcissistic personality traits. The divorce process often requires that the individual look out for themselves, often at the expense of the other party. Fighting to pay as little in alimony or child support as possible will feel to the receiving parent as lack of empathy toward the other spouse and possibly toward the children.
Additionally, a party’s fear may be interpreted as a narcissistic trait. Also note, some people are just assholes.
If you are going through a divorce you should meet with an experienced family law attorney. With over 30 years experience, Michael Bouldin has dealt with hundreds of narcissists. For consultation in Northern Kentucky or Cincinnati, contact Michael Bouldin at 859-300-3905 or use this Contact form.