Narcissism and the Lure of Grandiosity Over Reality: Reflections on a Narcissistic Inhibition in Creativity

Abstract

This article explores a creative inhibition where, in order to preserve a grandiose artistic fantasy, actual engagement with the creative process is avoided. The inhibition seems linked to some forms of narcissism. These individuals value artistic production, wish to be great artists themselves, but have severe difficulties engaging with the creative process. Attention is drawn to Ovid's account of Narcissus whose awareness of himself only comes about as he disturbs the water and his reflection is fragmented and disappears. This shattering of the perfect image is described as a potential narcissistic wound inflicted on a fantasy of artistic grandeur. The inhibition is illustrated with literary examples from the writing of Honore de Balzac and Henry James, and further explored with clinical material with clients with a creative inhibition. A comparison is made with Winnicott's idea of dissociative fantasy. It is suggested that successful creative activity requires a negative capability (Keats, 1817), a secondary process that gives coherence to creative endeavour to produce an aesthetic resonance. The narcissistic individuals discussed here seem to lack this negative capability leading to an experience which inflicts a massive narcissistic wound if they try to engage with the creative process.