NARCISSISM AND THE INTERPERSONAL SELF

Interpersonal approaches to the concept of a core self are explored in a review of Narcissism and the Interpersonal Self (John Fiscalini and Alan Grey, Editors). The role of self as system and self as identity- both the interpersonal, adaptive self and the personal, core self-is u sed to understand the evolution of the Interpersonal School and its va ried approaches to narcissism. A formulation integrating subjectively and objectively based models is proposed whereby the ''core'' self may be understood as the totality and integrity between internal, persona l self and reflected, interpersonal self. Narcissism involves an alien ation of the reflected self from the inner self, which leads to a part icular set of dynamics to regulate self-esteem.