The relationship between narcissism and love can be examined from two angles. Narcissism can be examined from the angle of the love of self inherent in the disorder. It can also be viewed from the angle of its effect on the narcissistic personality and other people with whom he or she may have a relationship. Narcissism is a disorder in which a person loves himself or herself to the exclusion of others. This is a psychiatric condition known as narcissistic personality disorder. The signs of the disorder include indicators like extreme self-absorption, a monumentally big ego, and a marked unwillingness to compromise.
The relationship between narcissism and love in relation to self refers to the inordinate love a narcissist has for his or herself. Narcissism could be caused by any number of factors. People who were doted on and overly indulged as children may grow up thinking that that is the way it ought to be. They may believe that the world exists just to please them, and they may carry this belief into the outer world. Some types of narcissism stem from a core lack of self-esteem. Sometimes, people who lack self-esteem may try to make up for this fact by trying to lord it over others or by acting as if they are the center of the universe. This is simply an attention-seeking ploy to compensate for the fact that they do not believe in themselves.
A lack of self-esteem stems from a lack of acceptance of one’s self, which may be due to feelings of inadequacy. People who do not accept themselves as they are do not love themselves. This lack of self-love might be masked by a constant search for adulation and praise from others. The effect of narcissism and love can also be seen in the way the narcissist relates to other people. A person who lacks self-esteem may find it hard to open up to others. A narcissist who is constantly searching for commendation and adulation will not see past his or her own inadequacies to offer love to people.
Narcissism may also cause someone who is just incredibly vain or self-centered to lack the ability to empathize with others. Such a person is so taken with his or her own importance that the narcissism and love for other people cannot both exist. This makes it difficult for such narcissists to love other people.
