Course: Rethinking Narcissism: The Bad and Surprising Good about Feeling Special
by Craig Malkin, PhD
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'What is Narcissism?' is one of the fastest-rising searches on Google, and articles on the topic routinely go viral. Yet the word 'narcissism' seems to mean something different every time it's uttered. The only certainty, it would seem, is that it's bad to be a narcissist--really bad. That's terrible news for millennials, who've been branded 'the most narcissistic generation ever.' In Rethinking Narcissism, Dr. Craig Malkin--a Harvard Medical School Instructor and clinical psychologist with more than two decades of experience--offers a radically new model for understanding this often misused term. Narcissism, argues Dr. Malkin, is essentially a spectrum of self-importance--and everyone falls somewhere on the scale between utter selflessness and total arrogance. When we casually invoke the term 'narcissist,' most of us are referring to the shadowy outer edge of the spectrum, which can shade into dangerous psychopathy. Yet there are also those who live at the lower end of the spectrum--dubbed 'echoists' by Dr. Malkin. These, too, are people we know; people so fearful of attention or acknowledgment that they often seem to have no voice at all. Drawing on his own research, as well as the latest findings in psychology, Dr. Malkin uses vivid stories of people from all walks of life to teach concrete strategies for spotting--and coping with--excessive narcissism. At the same time, he explains why embracing some degree of narcissism--the drive to feel special-- is essential to maintaining a healthy sense of self-worth. Using his new tool, the Narcissism Test, he not only guides readers through the process of measuring their narcissism, but also offers step-by-step advice to prevent unhealthy narcissism--and nurture healthy narcissism--in ourselves, as well as our partners, our colleagues, our friends, and especially our children. As practical as it is wise, Rethinking Narcissism doesn't just help people avoid the temptations and dangers of extreme narcissism--and narcissists--in both the real world and cyberspace; it helps everyone, including people who don't feel special enough, find their voices and live more passionate, fulfilling lives. Educational ObjectivesUpon completion of this course, the clinician will be able to:
Syllabus / Course Instructions
Additional Resources On This Site for CE
Additional Resources Not On This Site Bio: Craig Malkin, PhD Craig Malkin, PhD is a psychologist, author and Director of YM Psychotherapy & Consultation, which provides psychotherapy and couples workshops. He's a former Chief Psychologist for Cambridge and currently teaches at Harvard Medical School. As a blogger for Psychology Today and the Huffington Post he frequently writes about psychology and relationships and works with media outlets such as Time Magazine, the The New York Times, and NPR. His new, critically acclaimed book, based on his preliminary research with the Narcissism Spectrum Scale (NSS), is Rethinking Narcissism: The Bad?and Surprising Good?About Feeling Special. |
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