How Narcissism Develops: Psychology and Research

In this video I will discuss how a narcissist becomes a narcissist, what happens psychologically

in development, and how research has helped us understand this personality structure.

The origins of narcissism trace back to Greek mythology, where Narcissus fell in love with

his own reflection. Freud later used this story to describe excessive self-investment that blocks emotional

intimacy (Freud, 1914). Modern clinical understanding developed through Kohut and

Kernberg, who described narcissism as either a response to unmet emotional needs or an inflated

grandiose identity built to defend against vulnerability (Kohut, 1971; Kernberg,

1975). Research shows narcissism forms through relational experiences and temperament.