Virtue as a Support for Psychological Health in the Treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Abstract

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) affects many aspects of human functioning, and manifests characteristic behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal difficulties. Classic understandings of its origin suggest motivation by a strong defensive drive that compensates for both a developmentally delayed identity and perception of others. Over time, these defensive distortions become magnified and over-generalized to important adult psychological functions. Novel treatments for NPD are needed given its notoriously strong therapeutic resistance. Recently, Positive Psychology (e.g., Peterson & Seligman, 2004) has introduced the relevance of applying virtue to the understanding and the treatment of psychological disorders. A Virtues-based Positive Psychology is proposed as an original therapeutic application for NPD. A virtues based approach to treatment is presented as a means to the subject's greater control over emotional, behavioral, and cognitive extremes by ordering therapy towards character strengths. Procedures for introducing the specific virtues of humility and kindness are proposed.