The interaction between self and others - A different perspective on narcissism

This paper explores a perspective that expands the scope of the "healthy" n arcissistic function to include the narcissistic preservation of self-ident ities during interaction between self and others. After a brief review of t he literature from Freud to current views on the subject, the author descri bes the mutual influence of narcissistic processing and object relation and goes on to theorize that self-preservation is accomplished by the narcissi stic envelope through immunization and defensive processing. Narcissistic i mmune processing provides familiarity, cohesiveness, equilibrium, integrity , and continuity to the self's separateness in an affective state of stabil ity, which may make the libidinal need for object relation and interrelatio n with the world possible without undermining the constancy and safety of t he self. The defensive processing preserves the self from incohesiveness an d vulnerability during exposure to the unfamiliar (by creating a false self -identity, withdrawing into a narcissistic state, or preventing new interac tions). The theoretical implications of this argument and their practical a pplication are illustrated by several clinical vignettes.