Narcissism and Communication in Marriage

Abstract Narcissism, considered a personality disorder, is defined as an all‐pervasive pattern of grandiosity in fantasy or behavior. Central features of narcissism include a need for admiration and a lack of empathy. The concept of narcissism has been extended beyond mental illness and is now considered a personality trait. It follows then that narcissistic tendencies might affect one's marital communication style. Whereas less than 1 percent of the general population is diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder ( NPD ), conversational narcissism characterizes 78 percent of marriages, frequently renders spouses invisible, and predicts maladaptive dialogue and divorce at 7 years. This finding supports the view of America as a “culture of narcissism” in which the tendency is for individuals to focus on themselves to the detriment of others.