On Narcissism

1914 essay by Sigmund Freud

On Narcissism

The German edition

Author| Sigmund Freud
Original title| Zur Einführung des Narzißmus
Language| German

On Narcissism (German: Zur Einführung des Narzißmus) is a 1914 essay by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis.[1][2][3]

In the paper, Freud sums up his earlier discussions on the subject of narcissism, considers its place in sexual development,[3] and looks at the deeper problems of the relation between the ego and external objects, reconsidering the libido theory to draw a new distinction between 'ego-libido' and 'object-libido'.[3][4] The essay is notable for its introduction of the idea of the 'ego ideal', and the self-observing agency related to it, which would later be developed as the concept of the superego.[3]

Freud also looks at the concept in relation to his disputes with the theories of Carl Jung and Alfred Adler. One of his motives for writing the essay was probably to propose the concept of narcissism as an alternative to Jung's non-sexual 'libido' and Adler's 'masculine protest'.[3][5]

## Primary and secondary narcissism

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Freud postulates a universal "primary narcissism" that is a phase of sexual development in early infancy (described in an earlier work as a necessary intermediate stage between auto-eroticism and object-love, love for others). Portions of this 'self-love' or ego-libido are, at later stages of development, expressed outwardly, or "given off" toward others.

Largely as a result of his observation of the peculiar nature of the schizophrenic's relation to themselves and the world, he also postulates a "secondary narcissism". Observing that the two fundamental qualities of such patients were megalomania and withdrawal of interest from the real world of people and things, he suggests that: "the libido that has been withdrawn from the external world has been directed to the ego, and thus gives rise to an attitude which may be called narcissism."[3][6] It is a secondary narcissism because it is not a new creation but a magnification of an already existing condition (primary narcissism).

## Ego-libido and object-libido

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Prior to this essay, the libido theory focused on 'object-cathexes' - the emanations and withdrawals of libido relative to objects and others. Here Freud focuses for the first time on the antithesis between ego-libido and object-libido, noting that "the more one is employed, the more the other is depleted". The most extreme form of object-libido is the state of being in love: at the opposing end of the scale is paranoic fantasy. During the state of primary narcissism, the two forms of psychical energy are yet to be distinguished. It is only when there is object-cathexis that it becomes possible to "discriminate a sexual energy—the libido—from the energy of the ego-instincts".[3]

## See also

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* Egosyntonic and egodystonic
* History of narcissism
* Narcissistic withdrawal

## References

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1. ^ Rhodewalt, Frederick. "Narcissism". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
2. ^ Blumenthal, Ellen (2006-12-01). "Psychoanalysis: Theory and treatment". Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
3. ^ a b c d e f g Freud, Sigmund (1914-01-01). "On Narcissism" (PDF). Narcissistic Abuse Rehab. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
4. ^ Cratsley, Kelso (2016-03-23). "Revisiting Freud and Kohut on narcissism". Theory & Psychology. 26 (3): 333–359\. doi:10.1177/0959354316638181. S2CID 146980478. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
5. ^ Adler, Alfred (1912). The neurotic constitution; Outlines of a comparative individualistic psychology and psychotherapy. Dodd, Mead. ISBN 1177496593. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
6. ^ Strachey J. "Standard Edition of the Complete Works of Sigmund Freud" (PDF). sas.upenn.edu. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 14 December 2021.

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Sigmund Freud

Books|

* On Aphasia (1891)
* Studies on Hysteria (1895)
* The Interpretation of Dreams (including On Dreams) (1899)
* The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901)
* Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious (1905)
* Totem and Taboo (1913)
* Introduction to Psychoanalysis (1916–17)
* The History of the Psychoanalytic Movement (1917)
* Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego (1921)
* The Ego and the Id (1923)
* The Question of Lay Analysis (1926)
* The Future of an Illusion (1927)
* Civilization and Its Discontents (1930)
* Moses and Monotheism (1939)

Essays|

* "The Aetiology of Hysteria" (1896)
* Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905)
* Delusion and Dream in Jensen's Gradiva (1907)
* Creative Writers and Day-Dreaming (1908)
* Leonardo da Vinci, A Memory of His Childhood (1910)
* On Narcissism (1914)
* The History of the Psychoanalytic Movement (1914)
* Some Character-Types Met with in Psycho-Analytic Work (1915)
* Thoughts for the Times on War and Death (1916)
* Mourning and Melancholia (1918)
* Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920)
* Medusa's Head (1922)
* Dostoevsky and Parricide (1928)

Case studies|

* "Dora" (Ida Bauer)
* Emma Eckstein
* Herbert Graf ("Little Hans")
* Irma's injection
* "Anna O." (Bertha Pappenheim)
* "Rat Man"
* Sergei Pankejeff ("Wolfman")
* Daniel Paul Schreber

Original
concepts|

* Psychoanalysis
* Id, ego and superego
* Libido
* Preconscious
* Ego ideal
* censorship
* Free association
* Transference
* Psychosexual development
* Oral stage
* Anal stage
* Phallic stage
* Latency stage
* Genital stage
* Oedipus complex
* Father complex
* Deferred obedience
* Reality principle
* Seduction theory

Related|

* Bibliography
* complete works
* Archives
* Vienna home and museum
* London home and museum
* 1971 statue
* Interment
* Freudian slip
* Humor
* Inner circle
* Neo-Freudianism
* Views on homosexuality
* Religious views

Cultural
depictions|

* Freud: The Secret Passion (1962 film)
* The Visitor (1993 play)
* Mahler on the Couch (2010 film)
* A Dangerous Method (2011 film)
* Freud (2020 TV series)
* Freud's Last Session (2023 film)

Family|

* Martha Bernays (wife)
* Anna Freud (daughter)
* Ernst L. Freud (son)
* Clement Freud (grandson)
* Lucian Freud (grandson)
* Walter Freud (grandson)
* Amalia Freud (mother)
* Jacob Freud (father)
* Edward Bernay (nephew)
* Jofi (dog)

Prizes|

* Sigmund Freud Prize

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Narcissism

Similar personality concepts|

* Egomania
* Egotism
* God complex
* Grandiosity
* Healthy narcissism
* Hubris
* Messiah complex
* Superiority complex

In society|

* Collective narcissism
* In the workplace
* Leadership
* Me generation
* Narcissus (mythology)
* Parents

Pathological narcissism|

* Narcissistic personality disorder
* history
* Malignant narcissism
* Narcissistic Personality Inventory

Phenomena|

* Narcissistic
* injury
* neurosis
* elation
* mortification
* supply
* withdrawal
* defences

Related psychology concepts|

* Compensation
* Dark triad
* Empathy
* Entitlement
* Grandiosity
* Manipulation (psychology)
* Selfishness

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