Psychological Matters

I enjoyed watching a recently released DVD this weekend, called Morning Glory . One of the main characters was Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford), a veteran TV journalist who loved to list his famous interviews and numerous awards. Other co-workers frequently referred to him as the “third worst person in the world.” He treated his colleagues with casual disregard and at times sabotaged others to get his way. He was divorced, had lost touch with his children, and lived in an apartment which looked like a museum. The movie was a comedy, and Mike was fun to watch because he was easy to hate. Yet, there was something very sad about him. Mike Pomeroy is a great example of a classic narcissist. Narcissists are usually charming, attractive people. They often are successful in their chosen careers. We find them interesting and make them the center of attention. Life around them feels exciting and spontaneous. We ignore the fact that they become disinterested when the conversation drifts aw...

Most of us have had an experience dealing with an extremely difficult person. We may have initially found this individual attractive. He (or she) seemed sincere and had interpersonal charisma. But once we began to trust this person, we discovered that he was not who he first appeared to be. We ended up being treated rudely or felt manipulated. Our interests were betrayed, leaving us feeling ripped off and deceived. This is a common scenario that happens when we encounter individuals who has some characteristics of a personality disorder.  What is a personality disorder? The American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) classifies ten distinct personality disorders. This manual is the primary guide mental health professionals use to identify various mental health conditions. The DSM-IV-TR defines personality disorders as “an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations...