"Sir Rodney Smithers" Ask me about my knighthood. wrote in message
news:...
I wonder why Harry feels it is necessary to make up these stories. What
possible benefit do you think he receives from these fabrications.

Ah of course, , I forget the obvious reason why Harry makes up stories:

A narcissistic individual has a basic sense of inferiority although if you
listen to him talk you would never realize it. A narcissist presents a false
self to the world. Under his inferiority is a preoccupation with fantasies
of outstanding achievement, ideal love, and an aimless orientation toward
superficial interests. The narcissist uses others to aid him in any tasks he
undertakes and will frequently take credit for work which others have done.
The narcissistic individual may be more successful at his chosen field of
work than some of the other personality disorders. This is because his work
can be advantageous to the narcissist especially if it provides narcissistic
supply.



Lying is an integral part of the narcissist's behavior and all their
self-reports are unreliable. His cognition is impaired to the extent that he
frequently misinterprets other's speech, actions, and thoughts. He may
believe that someone respects or loves him although this is a fantasy which
exists only in the mind of the narcissist.



Narcissists will over inflate their own accomplishments, are boastful, and
pretentious. They frequently will compare themselves to people of great
accomplishments and are surprised when others do not agree with them. In
fact, it is not unusal for the narcissist to compare himself with God.



Although he may attempt to impress others with knowledge and decisiveness, a
narcissistic person's information base is often limited to trivia. His ideas
are seldom original. He chooses to quote whoever he feels at the time is an
authority, however, the narcissist's quotations may not be accurate as to
what the chosen authority meant. The narcissist makes his own
interpretations to best suit his whim. People other than the narcissist may
wonder why he picked that individual as an authority since no true
validation may exist the individual is an authority.



He also feels that people of high status can only understand him and he
often assigns special, gifted, or unique qualities to the people with whom
he associates. He will insist that he has the best doctor, lawyer, etc.,
available, and will assign non-factual accomplishments to that individual to
prove the validity of his claims.



A narcissistic individual displays beliefs and behaviors that indicate a
sense of 'specialness' or 'uniqueness.' He expects favorable treatment from
others and wants automatic compliance with his requests. For instance he
does not feel he should be made to wait in line and expects to be the center
of attention. He is mystified when he does not get what he wants. If an
individual disappoints him then he will devalue that person.



A narcissist demonstrates a lack of empathy towards others and this causes
him to treat others like objects. He does not see others as human beings,
but sees them as objects that have no feelings or needs. His sense of
entitlement leads to his exploitation of others and this results in little
guilt or remorse.



A narcissistic injury occurs when someone defeats or criticizes the
narcissistic individual. The narcissist may not show it outwardly, but he is
haunted by criticisms and defeats. Therefore, the narcissist does have
emotions. The narcissist, however, does not relate to his emotions as others
do because he represses his emotions so deeply that they play no conscious
role in his behavior. But, these repressed emotions unconsciously play a
large part in determining his behavior. When a narcissistic injury occurs,
the narcissist begins to feel empty, degraded, and humiliated and he is
capable of retaliating with narcissistic rage. His reactions constitute
disdain or defiant attacks.



Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder


A pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy which
begins by early adulthood and is present in differing contexts within a
person's life.


1.. A narcissistic individual is grandiose in their sense of
self-importance and exaggerates their achievements and talents. He expects
to be recognized as superior without achieving any great accomplishments.

2.. A narcissistic individual is preoccupied with fantasies of his
brilliance as well as his unlimited success or power. He fantasizes about
beauty or ideal love.

3.. A narcissistic individual believes that he is "special" or "unique."
He feels that he can only be understood by or should associate with other
special or high status people.

4.. A narcissistic individual requires excessive admiration and is on a
constant search for admiration.

5.. A narcissistic individual has a sense of entitlement. He has
unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment and expect others to
automatically comply with his wishes.

6.. A narcissistic individual takes advantage of others to achieve his own
ends and uses others without regards to the feelings of others.

7.. A narcissistic individual lacks empathy and does not identify with the
feelings or needs of others.

8.. A narcissstic individual is envious of others and believes that others
are envious of him.

9.. A narcissistic individual shows arrogant or haughty behaviors or
attitudes and does not care who he offends.