Narcissism: More Than Just a Social Nuisance

What is Your First Impression?

Do those words in the picture above, shock you?

Some will ask me, 'How could you write such a thing?'

I didn't!

These are words spoken by a narcissist to their spouse. Similar phrases are used each day, worldwide, against targets of narcissistic abuse.

Do people really say things like that?

Are narcissists really like this?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

How shocking!

A Subject Nobody Wants to Discuss?

Mentioning narcissism is like mentioning suicide: it is the elephant in the room that nobody wants to think about or address. It is nasty, emotional, touchy-feely stuff that is best left to experts: medics, scientists, sociologists and psychologists! It should certainly never be discussed in a business setting or on a business forum like LinkedIn.

Unfortunately, I disagree with you and I disagree strongly!

Consider the financial impact of toxic, narcissistic, bullying on people, including those who work. It is astronomical.

• In 2021, estimates of the total cost to the US GDP were around $1920000 ($1.92M) per MINUTE.
• In the UK, for the same year, it was around £44000 per minute.

No matter whether you look from the social, financial, psychological or productivity angle, the problem is significant.

The problem is huge!

The Problem is Growing

We are encouraged to promote narcissism & narcissistic attitudes every minute of the day through marketing, advertising, media & even family: get, keep, store, show, make others jealous of us, be high profile, be an influencer, be a successful business owner (defined in currency rather than social impact).

Big business has lost any moral compass or sense of social responsibility that it once had. Many who claim social responsibility, do so as a marketing campaign.

But why would companies even have to make a point of social responsibility unless it was a scarce commodity?

If it was already common, they would NOT be able to use it as a reason for choosing them over another. We ALL have social and environmental responsibility. It part of the responsibility for being a citizen in a country.

The term moral bankruptcy has been used towards those charged with responsibility for companies whose reputation WAS built on being trustworthy by those who worked there and by those in the communities around them. Boeing & GE have, in 2024, shown the REAL fruits of the legacy of narcissistic CEOs. People like Jack Welch, who was named Manager of the Century in 1999 and his possie of disciples have destroyed ethical business as we ever knew it. Boeing is in turmoil for an appalling safety record & lack of accountability for many deaths of passengers. GE ceased to be a conglomerate for the first time in its long history.

Others WILL follow.

Narcissism is MUCH more Than a Social Nuisance

Narcissism is MUCH MORE than a social nuisance: it is killer of people, societies and hope!

Find me ONE business where a narcissistic CEO has created long-term vision with company stability, employee satisfaction and a strong safety record.

Should we be surprised at such outcomes when the heart of the leaders is rooted in the caption at the head of this blog? When their attitude towards those who create their wealth and status is no more than pawns on a chessboard, to be played and sacrificed, whenever necessary, with no concern for the cost. 

Making Responsibility Personal

It is easy to know solutions and ignore them because they are inconvenient to us.

How many of us ignore people for material wealth, friendship for personal status, relationships for sexual prowess or happiness for reward?

The big picture that encapsulates us all is made up from many, smaller, pictures, over which we each have some influence.

Imagine the effect if each one of us was committed to making narcissistic toxicity unacceptable, to eliminating it from society by giving it no power, to taking responsibility for ourselves to consciously say no to those things we currently crave and promote: because this is what it WILL take!

Pandemics rarely die without a cure, without people taking a stand against them, even though it may cost them as individuals.

Humans work at their optimum when they work together, for others, a fact that has been repeatedly proven by research, especially when considering beneficial effects on those who work in this way. We work for others because it benefits everyone, NOT just ourselves.

People who work for others in order to gain praise, accolades or reward, are usually communal narcissists.

In a world where I, me & mine are trendy, glittering mirages that dissolve into despair and evade all sense of fulfilment, isn't it better to think wider and include others on our trip towards our goals?

Isn't it time we changed our independence for interdependence?

Are we driving ourselves and others into a void or helping us all to avoid it?

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You will also find the following links helpful for understanding narcissism and its impacts on our lives.

SAFETY ONLINE

How to Protect Our Online Activity When Living in an Abusive Relationship

TERMS AND DESCRIPTIONS USED WHEN TALKING ABOUT NARCISSISM

Terminology and Definitions Used When Talking About Narcissism

IDENTIFYING NARCISSISTS

How to Identify The Different Types of Narcissist

How to Spot Narcissists and Narcissism

Quick Quiz: Find Out if You Are Affected by Narcissists or Narcissism

BUILDING YOUR SUPPORT TEAM

How to build an Effective Support System - Strategies for Victims of Narcissistic Abuse

DIVORCING A NARCISSIST

Divorcing a Narcissist - What You Should Know About the Legal System and the Courts