Narcissistic Personality Disorder

[Godsgirl]

Does anyone here believe that many abusive pastors may well suffer with "Narcissistic Personality Disorder". IMO certain well known preachers definitely show symptoms of this condition. One of the symptoms of NPD is a lack of empathy for others and this is certainly evident in some preachers who I have heard/read on the internet. Maybe this is what leads them to engage in spiritual abuse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

[dougjb]

Hi Godsgirl,
I believe that there are those in leadership positions in the church who have some form of "narcissistic personality disorder" among other things. Depending on how well they are able to disguise their problem, it will usually reveal itself to their ruin. Look at the number of tele-evangelists that have taken a dive because of their odd behavior.
There is only one person in the world of the true narcissist, and that is the narcissist him or herself. I do not know if a narcissist is led into abuse but I do know that they are a living ongoing highlight drama of abuse, it's just part of who and what they are all about.

dougjb
some food for thought

[Reg]

Hi Godsgirl,

Absolutely........

You may like to check out these previous threads on that. We talked about it extensively.

Narcissists and Religion
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8835

Narcissist vs. Psychopath
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8825&page=4

Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8824

[analyzer]

You might want to check out this article, it has helped me a lot to define the problem:

Article about the characteristics of a sociopath (http://www.youmeworks.com/sociopaths.html)

cheers
Gerald

[simka2]

I can almost guarentee you that my abuse was a narcissit! It was bad!!! The only one who's pain mattered was his and it was everyone else's job to fix it!

[Hope 98]

You might want to check out this article, it has helped me a lot to define the problem:

Article about the characteristics of a sociopath (http://www.youmeworks.com/sociopaths.html)

cheers
Gerald

OH BOY did that article open a can of worms in my world.

I can easily identify at least 5 sociopaths who have seriously impacted my life.

I THINK I am beginning to make the right kind of changes to avoid allowing further damage to my heart and finances. What a complex relationship dynamic!

Thank you for the link. I believe it will prove very valuable.

[hornblower]

Thankyou I think this has answered my question about how did most owners of companies end up this way or people that are in places of authority end up there. Bosses and such.
I think its clear that particular job would always be difficult in order to tell someone you are fired and so forth and be able to work the next day. Or people that never question themselves I can see it could help them to own something. They never have many doubts. They are centered strictly on what they want and nothing else.

These people that are around me never even hear what anyone else is saying about anything they only want you to hear them..........
Its like totally ME ME ME ME all of the time.
wow!
If anyone says anything its always a put down that comes back to them.

Thats too bad.

[Anna Marta]

HB,

It is great to see you back here!!! I have been thinking about you a lot. Hope all is going ok in your world! :D

Love and hugs
AM

[Godsgirl]

OH BOY did that article open a can of worms in my world.

I can easily identify at least 5 sociopaths who have seriously impacted my life.

I THINK I am beginning to make the right kind of changes to avoid allowing further damage to my heart and finances. What a complex relationship dynamic!

Thank you for the link. I believe it will prove very valuable.

Same here. I have had close contact with 2 or 3 people that I suspect fit that category (both "Christians" though not ministers) and I have the scars to show for it.:(

[Anna Marta]

We are not crazy folks, what we see is what is happening. Just read an article by a pyschiatrist who has done some research studies and he came out with the "1 in 10" Americans are suffering from some kind of narcisistic disorder.

I was going to blame this on the 60s generation until I remembered that it was the people brought up in the 40s and 50s who gave us the consequences of lying and experimenting on people w/o their permission - LSD, radiation, psychiatric treatments etc - without it bothering their consciences. We are seeing the results coming out of our schools and homes... I remember the rock stars all lined up singing "We are the World" and how ludicrous it was... they are about as far from "this world" as it is possible to be.

When you fly your private plane to ask for a handout, or take your board on a vacation with intended for helping the workers to survive or preach about hell's fire to get more people to contribute to the next payment on your holy mansion... what is that called????

Dander is UP!! :mad:

[Carmen]

Look up Sam Vaknin, he is probably "the" expert on narcissism.

[Jerry]

Does anyone here believe that many abusive pastors may well suffer with "Narcissistic Personality Disorder". IMO certain well known preachers definitely show symptoms of this condition. One of the symptoms of NPD is a lack of empathy for others and this is certainly evident in some preachers who I have heard/read on the internet. Maybe this is what leads them to engage in spiritual abuse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

Dear Godsgirl,,,,
If you read the personality profiles for "Narcissist" and "Predator" you will find stunning similarities........

Love Jerry

[Godsgirl]

While I'm no expert on NPD from what little I have read these people usually have "enablers" - people whose whole purpose for living is to stroke the narcissist's pathetic ego! Well I have noticed one particular preacher whose "fan club" won't hear anything bad said about him. Criticise this guy and it's as if you've criticised God Himself!:eek::rolleyes:

[luttrell03]

While I'm no expert on NPD from what little I have read these people usually have "enablers" - people whose whole purpose for living is to stroke the narcissist's pathetic ego! Well I have noticed one particular preacher whose "fan club" won't hear anything bad said about him. Criticise this guy and it's as if you've criticised God Himself!:eek::rolleyes:

that's interesting. I'd like to hear more or get an article on that. I know people who feel it's their calling to work for the pastor, to help him fulfill his calling. All the while they refuse to look at the damage done.

[Carmen]

That is true for other controlling relationships as well. Politician/party member, rock star/groupie, cult leader/cult follower - it is all the same. The narcissist loves groupies. Have you noticed that some politicians rarely need to address complaints about their actions? Their party followers address the complaints for them. Having a solid backing by loyal and unquestioning followers does have its advantages in politics.

Those that are after extreme power and control may turn their groupies into kool-aid drinkers. Whether the followers are on the margins or in the inner circle it is just a matter of degree as to how far they would go to protect their idol. They all have the same mindset.

[Teri]

Does anyone here believe that many abusive pastors may well suffer with "Narcissistic Personality Disorder". IMO certain well known preachers definitely show symptoms of this condition. One of the symptoms of NPD is a lack of empathy for others and this is certainly evident in some preachers who I have heard/read on the internet. Maybe this is what leads them to engage in spiritual abuse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

I had to look up the definition and it says it is sometimes called the God complex. The funny thing is that I used to sit under a pastor who was a strong autoritarian. We had a young man in our congregation with down syndrome and he called the pastor "God". Maybe he saw something everyone else didn't!:)

[Anna Marta]

... it is sometimes called the God complex. ...a young man ... with down syndrome and he called the pastor "God". Maybe he saw something everyone else didn't!:)

Hi Teri,

The "God Complex", huh? Excellent term, and your Down Syndrome young man probably hit that nail squarely on the head!

BTW, I see we have lots in common after reading your profile. I enjoy many of the same things you do and fight some of the battle too.

AM

[dougjb]

That is true for other controlling relationships as well. Politician/party member, rock star/groupie, cult leader/cult follower - it is all the same. The narcissist loves groupies. Have you noticed that some politicians rarely need to address complaints about their actions? Their party followers address the complaints for them. Having a solid backing by loyal and unquestioning followers does have its advantages in politics.

Those that are after extreme power and control may turn their groupies into kool-aid drinkers. Whether the followers are on the margins or in the inner circle it is just a matter of degree as to how far they would go to protect their idol. They all have the same mindset.

Hi Carmen,
The groupie thing is an excellent way of stating the matter. The groupie is the cash cow of the narcissist because there is no work in getting them into the web of control, they seek to be a groupie. Everyone gets their disfunctional desires met. The narcissist gets the ego groomed and the groupie gets to live in the shadow of a Godlike figure. :eek:

dougjb
some food for thought

[Godsgirl]

That is true for other controlling relationships as well. Politician/party member, rock star/groupie, cult leader/cult follower - it is all the same. The narcissist loves groupies. Have you noticed that some politicians rarely need to address complaints about their actions? Their party followers address the complaints for them. Having a solid backing by loyal and unquestioning followers does have its advantages in politics.

Those that are after extreme power and control may turn their groupies into kool-aid drinkers. Whether the followers are on the margins or in the inner circle it is just a matter of degree as to how far they would go to protect their idol. They all have the same mindset.

Point well made!:) .I remember when one of a certain preacher's sermons was posted on YouTube by one of his followers the poster deleted all negative comments that were made about the preacher. Another one of this man's followers said to someone who dared criticise his idol something along the lines of "if you reject (wotyamaycallhim)'s:p message you reject the voice of God".:eek::rolleyes: Also one of this man's "groupies" implied that I may not be saved because I had the nerve to question Mr Wonderful. It's the same with other spiritually abusive preachers also with politicians. Criticise them and your character is called into question by their devotees *puke, icky, spit*:mad:

[JaniceB]

Here's a song for narcissists. It's set to the tune of "It Had to be You."

It's all about me,
It's all about me,
It can't be about
Anyone else
'Cause it's all about me.
It can't be about you
No matter what you might say or do 'cause
It's all about me,
All about me,
All about me.:D