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Kim Jong Il Hedonistic Narcissist
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Expressive Behavior: Definition
Characteristic disposition and actions What the subject knowingly or unknowingly reveals about himself What the subject wants others to think or to know about him
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Expressive Behavior Narcissistic tendencies: Overconfident
Feels entitled to special consideration and privileges Presumptuous; inflated sense of self‑importance Self-centered; self-absorbed and egotistical Arrogant; indifferent to the rights of others and lacking in social reciprocity Acts in a grandiose manner, often in the absence of commensurate achievements Manipulative; lacking in integrity Exploitative; takes others for granted and uses them for personal gain Flouts conventional rules, viewing them inapplicable to oneself Few constraints of conscience; breaks promises and fails to honor commitments Fraudulent; prone to swindling Nonmalevolent sense of entitlement; benignly exploitative without overt hostility or malicious intent
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Expressive Behavior Histrionic tendencies:
Indulges in self-dramatizing behaviors Impulsive; inclined to make spur‑of‑the‑moment decisions without carefully considering alternatives Intolerant of inactivity; inclined to seek sensation or excitement to prevent boredom Susceptible to boredom; stimulus seeking, prone to stirring things up to generate excitement May instigate a crisis for instrumental purposes Displays a penchant for momentary excitements, fleeting adventures, and short-sighted hedonism
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Interpersonal Conduct: Definition
Typical style of interaction Methods of engaging others to meet own needs Strategies for coping with social tensions and conflicts
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Interpersonal Conduct
Narcissistic tendencies: Unempathic Self-indulgent; shirks social responsibilities Entitled; expects favors without assuming reciprocal responsibilities Exploitative; shamelessly takes others for granted and manipulates and uses them to indulge own desires, enhance oneself, or advance one’s personal agenda, yet contributing little or nothing in return. Skilled in art of deception; fabricates intricate lies for purposes of self-enhancement Expects others to adulate and glorify him Few genuine relationships
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Interpersonal Conduct
Histrionic tendencies: Attention seeking; exhibitionistic and attentive to popular appeal Charms and manipulates others through craft and wit Seductive; entices others to support own excesses Provocative; manipulates others to solicit praise or draw attention to self Excessive need for validation
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Cognitive Style: Definition
Style of focusing attention and processing information Typical mode of organizes thoughts and making attributions Manner of communicating reactions and ideas to others
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Cognitive Style Narcissistic tendencies: Inventive and resourceful
Extraordinarily confident in own ideas Presumptuous; assumes one is unconditionally entitled to recognition and admiration, with little effort, burden, or obligation on one’s own part Indifferent conscience and disregard for truth; words are used primarily for effect Rationalizes failure by taking liberty with facts or distorting the truth Preoccupied with self-glorifying fantasies of accomplishment or fame Unconstrained fantasies of greatness and dreams of glory, yet few tangible achievements Exaggerates own achievements Deprecates competitors or detractors in quest for glory Devotes energy to constructing intricate lies, cleverly exploiting others, and slyly extracting from them what one believes is simply one’s due Unresponsive to cautionary feedback
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Cognitive Style Histrionic tendencies:
Avoids introspection or self-reflection; focuses on external, practical, concrete matters Superficial in reasoning or thinking; tends to speak and write in impressionistic generalities Ideas lack substance and detail Integrates experience poorly, resulting in scattered learning, difficulty in learning from mistakes, poor judgment, and flawed decision making
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Mood/Temperament: Definition
Typically manner of emotional expression Frequency and intensity of emotional expression
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Mood/Temperament Narcissistic tendencies: Overoptimistic
Unruffled under pressure Nonchalant and smug; appears coolly unimpressionable or buoyantly optimistic When sense of superiority is punctured, nonchalant manner may quickly turn to edgy irritability and annoyance May display rage when insulted, crossed, or if confidence is severely shaken
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Mood/Temperament Histrionic tendencies: Emotionally reactive
Moods fluctuate, but are short‑lived and superficial Easily enthused, angered, or bored
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Self‑Image: Definition
Subject’s view of himself Subjective self-perception that energizes self-affirmation drives
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Self‑Image Narcissistic tendencies:
Views self as admirable, extraordinarily meritorious, and esteemed, despite being viewed by others as egotistical and arrogant Views self as having unique and special qualities, deserving of great admiration and entitled to special rights and privileges
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Self‑Image Histrionic tendencies:
Views self as charming, stimulating, and well-liked Enjoys the image of attracting acquaintances and important people by engaging in a busy and pleasure‑oriented lifestyle Confident in social skills Strongly attracted to the public aspects of political life, thriving on the validation offered by uncritical admirers, adulating crowds, and people of renown
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Regulatory/Defense Mechanisms: Definition
Characteristic mechanisms of self-protection, need gratification, and conflict resolution Needs and motives
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Regulatory/Defense Mechanisms
Narcissistic tendencies: Defends ego primarily through rationalization Under stress, maintains equilibrium with facile self-deceptions, devising plausible reasons to justify own failures Glosses over failures by offering self-serving justifications to put self in a positive light, despite evident shortcomings and failures Achieves need gratification primarily through fantasy Redeems self and reasserts wounded pride and status through wishful thinking and dreams of glory Primary motive is to achieve gains in narcissistic stature (eminence, fame)
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Regulatory/Defense Mechanisms
Histrionic tendencies: Defends ego through self-distraction; manages stress by engaging in relatively mindless activities — physical diversions or other forms of amusement or recreation May dissociate under severe stress, resulting in erratic behaviors and failure to confront reality Copes with social pressures by continuously refining one’s image and reinventing oneself, but such changes are likely to be merely cosmetic, resulting in a series of socially attractive but changing facades
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Object Representations: Definition
Inner imprint and psychological residue of childhood experiences Memories, attitudes, and emotions that underlie the subject’s worldview
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Object Representations
Narcissistic tendencies: The lasting childhood impression on one’s personality that shapes one’s current perception of reality and reaction to world events consists of contrived, illusory memories Personal difficulties are refashioned to render them consonant with one’s unrealistically high sense of self-worth Criticism is neutralized by devaluing or vilifying detractors
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Object Representations
Histrionic tendencies: Undeveloped core identity apart from others; thus driven to seek personal validation from high-status admirers
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Morphologic Organization: Definition
Personality strength and cohesion Functional efficacy of the personality system
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Morphologic Organization
Narcissistic tendencies: Spurious; lacking the inner balance necessary for regulating impulses, achieving needs, and resolving conflicts Ordinary demands are viewed as annoying incursions Excuses and justifications are easily mustered and serve to perpetuate selfish behaviors and exploitative, duplicitous social conduct
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Morphologic Organization
Histrionic tendencies: Insubstantial inner self; hence, focuses on external matters and the present rather than being introspective or dwelling on the past Haphazard personality system, resulting in disconnected thoughts, emotions, and actions, which may prompt erratic behaviors Poor internal controls for restraining impulses, coordinating defenses, and resolving conflicts; thus, may rely excessively on ad hoc strategies rather than disciplined pursuit of carefully formulated plans to meet one’s needs or achieve one’s objectives
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Primary Distinctions between Hedonistic and Malignant Narcissists
Some constraint of conscience: The hedonistic narcissist’s exploitative egocentricity does not rise to the blatant, two-faced, contract-breaking, antisocial means-to-an-end duplicity of the malignant narcissist; rather, it is simply a by-product of the narcissist’s egotistical sense of superiority, which leads them to believe others owe them something Not fundamentally paranoid in orientation: The hedonistic narcissist is vigilant, but realistically attentive to risk. No unconstrained aggression: Assuming a threatening posture reflects self-protective concerns more than hostile intent. Unlike the malignant narcissist, the hedonistic narcissist is conflict averse, though willing to employ aggressive means in Machiavellian fashion if it serves his self-interest
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Influence Strategies If the intent is provocation to test the subject’s reaction and capabilities: The narcissistic character is amenable to decompensation into a paranoid reaction. Paranoia can be instigated by signaling hostile intent, for example, by a strong show of force. Paranoid decompensation can be further catalyzed by publicly humiliating the subject, for example, by revealing his personal flaws and political failures, accompanied by derogatory social commentary.
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Influence Strategies If the intent is pacification and conciliation:
The narcissistic character is susceptible to manipulation by hooking his self-image of superior self-worth. Compliance can be achieved through flattery, for example, by acknowledging his status and highlighting his achievements. Compliance can be enhanced through inducements contingent upon behavioral change.
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Influence Strategies If the intent is purely deterrence (i.e., neither provocation nor conciliation, but rather containment and maintaining the status quo): Convince the adversary . . . First, that the offending behavior in question (e.g., proliferation) will reduce his standing in the international community. Second, that the offending behavior will result in punishment (e.g., withholding foreign aid; imposing economic sanctions).
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Risks and Resistances Dealing with narcissists is notoriously difficult: Direct confrontation or criticism may prompt the subject to terminate the relationship. Inducing stress and conflict may trigger responses (e.g., rage) that are difficult to control. Characteristically resistant to influence by criticism, confrontation, or punishment.
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Strategic Considerations
Overall, the best cooperative outcomes will likely be achieved by candidly voicing doubts and reservations. Criticism should be leveled with a sympathetic tone, acknowledging the subject’s unique status and importance. Guard against overreacting to the subject’s attention-seeking maneuvers.
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Tactical Interventions for Gaining Compliance
Moderate the subject’s grandiose self-perception (e.g., by reducing overvaluation of self-worth by nonjudgmentally correcting favorable but faulty comparisons with others). Abate exploitative behavior (e.g., by setting realistic limits, consistently enforcing consequences for noncompliance, and rewarding cooperation). Modify expansive fantasies (e.g., by offering attainable substitute goals and gratifications). Discourage attention-seeking behaviors (e.g., guard against overreacting to concessions or threats).
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The Hedonistic Narcissist: Major Tactical Implications
Subject’s claims with regard to military capabilities should not be taken at face value, but should be called into question and verified. Relatively conflict averse and unlikely to employ military force without provocation. Relatively open to influence by carefully crafted diplomatic means subjectively perceived as bolstering the subject’s self-interest.
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