Narcissistic supply

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In psychoanalytic theory, narcissistic supply is a pathological or excessive need for attention or

History[edit]

Building on Freud's concept of narcissistic satisfaction[3] and on the work of his colleague the
psychoanalyst Karl Abraham,[4] Fenichel highlighted the narcissistic need in early development for
supplies to enable young children to maintain a sense of mental equilibrium.[5] He identified two main
strategies for obtaining such narcissistic supplies—aggression and ingratiation—contrasting styles of
approach which could later develop into the sadistic and the submissive respectively.[6]

A childhood loss of essential supplies was for Fenichel key to a depressive disposition, as well as to a
tendency to seek compensatory narcissistic supplies thereafter.[7] Impulse neuroses, addictions
including love addiction and gambling, were all seen by him as products of the struggle for supplies in
later life.[8] Psychoanalyst Ernst Simmel (1920) had earlier considered neurotic gambling as an attempt to
regain primitive love and attention in an adult context.[9]

Personality disorders[edit]

Psychoanalyst Otto Kernberg considered the malignant narcissistic criminal to be coldly characterised by
a disregard of others unless they could be idealised as sources of narcissistic supply.[10] Self
psychologist Heinz Kohut saw those with narcissistic personality disorder as disintegrating mentally when
cut off from a regular source of narcissistic supply.[11] Those providing supply to such figures may be
treated as if they are a part of the narcissist, in an eclipse of all personal boundaries.[12]

Functions in narcissistic pathology[edit]

In their adolescence, the narcissist internalises a "bad" recipient (usually their parent). [citation needed] They
regard feelings that are socially discouraged towards this recipient, including types of aggression such as
hatred and envy, among others. These perceptions reinforce the self-image of the narcissist as immoral
and corrupt.[citation needed] They eventually create a feeling of self-worth that is dysfunctional. Their self-
confidence and self-image become unrealistically low and distorted.[13][unreliable source?] In an attempt to
repress these "bad" feelings, the narcissist also suppresses all emotions. Their aggression is channeled
into fantasies or outlets that are socially lawful like extreme sports, gambling, reckless driving, and
shopping. The narcissist sees the environment as a place that is hostile, unstable, unfulfilling, morally
wrong, and unpredictable.

Narcissists generally have no inherent sense of self-worth, so they rely on other people, via attention or
narcissistic supply, to re-affirm their importance in order to feel good about themselves and maintain
their self-esteem.[14][unreliable source?] They then turn other people into operations or objects in such a way
that others do not pose any emotional threat[citation needed]. This reactive pattern is pathological narcissism.

The narcissist projects a false self to elicit a constant stream of attention or narcissistic supply from
others. The false self is an unreal façade or cover they show to the world that involves what the narcissist
intends to be seen as - powerful, elegant, smart, wealthy, or well-connected.[15][unreliable source?] The narcissist
then 'collects' reactions to this projected false self from their environment, which may consist of their
spouse, family, friends, colleagues, business partners, and peers. If the expected narcissistic supply
(adulation, admiration, attention, fear, respect, applause, or affirmation) is not forthcoming – they are
demanded or extorted by the narcissist.[14] Money, compliments, a media appearance, a sexual conquest
are all merely different forms of the same thing to a narcissist - narcissistic supply.[16][unreliable source?]

Sources[edit]

The attention they receive from the "supply source" is essential to the narcissist's survival, without it
they would die (physically or metaphorically) because their fragile ego depends on it to handle their
unstable self-esteem. There are distinctive forms of narcissistic supply to attain them with two separate
sources. Scholars and researchers generally recognise two main kinds of narcissistic supply: primary,
acquired through more publicly directed forms of attention, and secondary, generally acquired through
attention attained through interpersonal relationships.[17][unreliable source?]

Primary[edit]

The primary narcissistic supply is based on attention in both its public forms such as recognition,
fame, infamy, stardom, and its private, more interpersonal, types of praise, admiration, applause, fear,
and repulsion.[citation needed] It is crucial to realise that the primary narcissistic supply represents attention of
any kind–positive or negative.[14][unreliable source?] Their "realisations" may be imaginary, fictional, or only
evident to the narcissist, as long as others believe in them. Appearances qualify more than the content;
it is not the truth that matters, but their perception of it.[10] Therefore, as long as they receive the
expected reaction or attention that they had projected through their false self, the connotation attached
to it is inconsequential.[citation needed]

Triggers[edit]

A main narcissistic supply trigger is an individual or object that causes the source to provide narcissistic
supply by confronting the source with information about the false self of the narcissist. Narcissistic
supply is the source's response to the trigger.[18][unreliable source?] If the false self is projecting admiration and
the narcissist finds an environment that feeds into their need, then it becomes a trigger of primary
narcissistic supply.

Publicity (celebrity or notoriety, being renowned or being notorious) is a narcissistic supply trigger
because it causes individuals to pay attention to the narcissist, thus moving sources to provide
narcissistic supply to the narcissist. Publicity can be acquired through exposure, creation of something,
or by provoking attention.[15] The narcissist continually resorts to all three, much like what drug addicts
are doing to guarantee their regular dose. One such cause of narcissistic supply is a partner or a
companion.[citation needed]

Secondary[edit]

Secondary narcissistic supply involves projecting the image that they live a good life (a worthy cause of
pride for the narcissist), maintaining a safe existence (financial security, personal acceptability, upward
growth), and acquiring companionship.[16] Thus, having a partner, possessing significant property, being
creative, operating a company (converted into a pathological narcissistic space), having a feeling of
anarchic liberty, being a part of a community or society, having a skilled or other reputation, being
prosperous, owning land and displaying one's status signs-all represent secondary narcissistic supply as
well.[19][unreliable source?] Whatever would be a status symbol in the community of friends of the narcissist and
would be considered a secondary source as achievement in that community.[20][unreliable source?] Secondary
supply is about the overall image that the lives of the narcissist brings to their friends and relatives.
[13]
However, if it is to endure, this type of supply requires to be positive, any display of negativity would
end up hurting the person, no matter who they may be. It is this type of supply that is also the reserve
source for short primary narcissistic supply. However, the narcissist uses both in much the same manner.
[citation needed]

See also[edit]

 Adult-to-adult narcissistic abuse

 Attention seeking

 Codependency

 Control freak

 Don't feed the trolls

 Flattery

 Narcissistic mortification

 Narcissism

 Narcissistic rage and narcissistic injury

 Narcissistic withdrawal