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A Study of Malignant Narcissism offers a unique insight into malignant narcissism, exploring both its personal and professional aspects and constructing a theoretical framework that renders its origins and manifestations more accessible.
With reference to his own family dynamic and to 45 years of professional experience, Richard Wood explores the psychology of malignant narcissism, positing it as a defence against love. The book first o ers an overview of existing literature before examining relevant clinical material, including an analysis of Wood's relationships with his own parents. Wood presents vignettes illustrating the core dynamics that drive narcissism, illustrated with sections of his father's unpublished autobiography and with his patient work. The book makes the case for malignant narcissism to be considered a subtype of psychopathy and puts forth a framework setting out the key dynamics that typify these individuals, including consideration of the ways in which malignant narcissism replicates itself in varied forms. Finally, Wood examines the impact of narcissistic leadership and compares his theoretical position with those of other clinicians.
This book will be of interest to clinical psychologists, psychoanalysts, and psychotherapists, as well as all professionals working with narcissistic patients.
List of contents
1. Establishing An Attitude of Skepticism, 2. Literature Review of Malignant Narcissism and Related Constructs, 3. Mother, 4. The Face of Narcissism - Father (Foundational Ideas), 5. The Face of Narcissism - Father (The Nature of Relationships), 6. The Face of Narcissism - Father (There can only be one God), 7. The Dark Side - Father (Cruelty), 8. The Cost of Narcissism - Clinical Depression and complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, 9. Origins of Narcissism - My Father's Autobiographies, 10. The Case for Narcissism as Psychopathy, 11. Formulation of Narcissism, 12. Legacies of Narcissism - Impact on the Psyche, 13. Legacies of Narcissism - Malignant Narcissistic Leadership and the State as a Narcissistic Entity, 14. Reflections
Summary
A Study of Malignant Narcissism offers a unique insight into malignant narcissism, exploring both its personal and professional aspects and constructing a theoretical framework which renders its origins and manifestations more accessible.
Report
'A Study of Malignant Narcissism is an essential contribution to the growing literature on dangerous personalities and the destruction they cause. Courageous, searingly honest, and deeply moving ... A rare combination of compelling biography and crucial work of science, this is essential reading for our disordered times. An invaluable work of wisdom and experience.'
Ian Hughes, Senior Research Fellow, MaREI Centre at University College Cork, Ireland
'This fine book o ers a marvellous combination of often hair-raising raw experience with thoughtful, illuminating re ection and insightful commentary. Dr Wood throws much needed light on character formation and function, defensive deformation of personality, ... and resilience. This is a courageous, timely, well written, important book.'
Dr Brent Willock, Founding President of the Toronto Institute for Contemporary Analysis, Canada
'With superb prose, Dr. Wood provides a scholarly and informative description of the characteristics and behaviors of individuals with narcissistic personalities ... For anyone wanting to learn about psychopathy and malignant narcissism, and how this knowledge might apply to autocratic leaders, this is the book to read.'
Graeme J. Taylor, MD, FRCPC, Psychoanalytic Fellow of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry and Professor University of Toronto, Canada
'Richard Wood writes "Though we may think of ourselves as mostly intrepid explorers of our psyches, many of us continue to find a trip through our own interiors to be a very aversive and dangerous endeavor" (p. 189). Yet in A Study of Malignant Narcissism: Personal and Professional Insights, he does just that, traveling into his fears, becoming an intrepid explorer of his psyche, and inviting the reader to do the same. Through deeply personal experiences, he explores the professional, academic, and political manifestations of malignant narcissism, calling this psychological disorder "the most destructive form of human personality." His multidetermined knowledge of malignant narcissism offers a comprehensive overview useful to both mental health professionals and society at large at this fragile time in our history.' - Ona Lindquist, Clio's Psyche
