Narcissism: Denial of the True Self - Paperback

by Alexander Lowen (Author)

A groundbreaking, "thoughtful and provocative" (Los Angeles Times) study of narcissism that will relieve hidden anxieties and heal the tension between mind, body, and feelings.Are you a narcissist? Do you interact with someone who is? Contrary to popular belief, narcissists do not love themselves or anyone else. They cannot accept their true selves, constructing instead fixed masks that hide emotional numbness. Influenced by forces in culture and predisposed by factors in the human personality, narcissists tend to be: - More concerned with how they appear than what they feel - Seductive and manipulative, striving for power and control - Egotists, focused on their own interests but lacking the true values of the self -- self-expression, self-possession, dignity, and integrity - Without a solid sense of self, which leads them to experience life as empty and meaningless In this groundbreaking study, Dr. Alexander Lowen uses his extensive clinical experience to demonstrate how narcissists can recover their suppressed feelings and regain their lost humanity. By the use of Bioenergetic Analysis, the psychotherapy created by Dr. Lowen, a new possibility of a fulfilling and authentic life is presented for people with narcissistic characteristics and for those who interact with them.

Author Biography

Alexander Lowen, MD, was a world-renowned psychiatrist and leading practitioner of Bioenergetic Analysis--the revolutionary therapy that uses the language of the body to heal the problems of the mind. A former student of Wilhelm Reich, he developed Bioenergetic Analysis and founded the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis. Dr. Lowen was the author of many publications, including Love and Orgasm, The Betrayal of the Body, Fear of Life, Joy, and The Way to Vibrant Health. He passed away in 2008.