Narcissism and Narcissistic Impairments:

Abstract

The self psychological theories of Heinz Kohut expand the concept of narcissism and narcissistic impairments to include both healthy and pathological forms of disorders of the self. The major theoretical constructs of self psychology derive directly from the therapeutic encounter. The major theoretical focus is on an individual's subjective experience of the self. Methods of diagnosis, assessment, and treatment from a self psychological perspective will be highlighted in this paper. Since many of the patients that are seen in the private sector by practicing psychotherapists are narcissistically impaired, this paper should shed some light on the newer conceptualizations of narcissism and narcissistic impairments.