Psychopath and Narcissist Survivors Support Group

eclypz · Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 37

Dr Vaknin,

I would like to know something. It seems that most definitions of borderline and narcissistic personality disorders include an age dependent moment of abandonment or abuse.

In borderline personality disorder it is said there is usually an abandonment or incomplete development at the age of 2.

How is this disorder affected if the abandonment and abuse did not start until later at say age 5?

Is it less severe or does it present itself a different type of disorder all together?

eclypz · Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 37

to make it a little more interesting let me ask a general question. Let's say, in a vacuum you could go back in history to one who has suffered a deep emotional trauma. What or how would the personality disorder develop differently if the trauma happened at different ages?

For instance, borderline personality disorder seems to be a problem with the emotional bonding at age 2. Is this in common with other disorders or is that something unique with that particular disorder? I read somewhere that narcissism is usually associated with the blunting of emotional development at the age when one is going through phallic emotinal development or whatever part of it is when they themselves are objects of their own sexual desire. Is that a certain age?

I know nothing is concrete here, but what do you say to someone who seems to be presenting with a borderline personality disorder but their abandonment didnt happen until 5?

samvaknin · Site Admin Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 2316

Pathological narcissism is a reaction to prolonged abuse and trauma in early childhood (ages 6 months to 6 years, also known as the formative years) or in early adolescence (ages 9 to 13)!!!

The source of the abuse or trauma is immaterial - the perpetrators could be parents, teachers, other adults, or peers. Pampering, smothering, spoiling, and "engulfing" the child are also forms of abuse - see these:

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/narcissismglance.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/journal42.html

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php/type/doc/id/419

Narcissistic and psychopathic parents and their children - click on the
links:

Nothing is Happening at Home

http://gorgelink.org/vaknin/wronghome-en.html

Genetics and Personality Disorders

http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders27.html

The Genetic Underpinnings of Narcissism

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal43.html

Narcissism at a Glance

http://samvak.tripod.com/narcissismglance.html

How Can I Save My Child from the Narcissist or Psychopath?

http://samvak.tripod.com/4.html

Narcissistic Parents

http://samvak.tripod.com/faq5.html

The Narcissist's Dead Parents

http://samvak.tripod.com/faq54.html

Parenting - The Irrational Vocation

http://samvak.tripod.com/parent.html

The Narcissist's Mother

http://samvak.tripod.com/faq64.html

The Prodigy as Narcissistic Injury

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal89.html

Leveraging the Children

http://samvak.tripod.com/abuse12.html

Tell Your Children the Truth

http://samvak.tripod.com/abuse13.html

The Narcissist and His Family

http://samvak.tripod.com/faq22.html

The Cult of the Narcissist

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal79.html

Narcissist, Beware the Children

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal36.html

The Narcissist as Eternal Child

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal92.html

The Inverted Narcissist

http://samvak.tripod.com/faq66.html

Intimacy and Abuse

http://samvak.tripod.com/intimacyabuse.html

The Narcissist is Looking for a Family

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal5.html

Adolescent Narcissist

http://samvak.tripod.com/case01.html

Portrait of the Narcissist as a Young Man

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal22.html

The Delusional Way Out

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal42.html

The Development of the Narcissist

http://samvak.tripod.com/faq25.html

The Dual Role of the Narcissist's False Self

http://samvak.tripod.com/faq48.html

The Roots of Pedophilia

http://samvak.tripod.com/pedophilia.html

The Butterflies are Laughing

http://gorgelink.org/vaknin/butterflies-en.html

Janusz Courts Dina

http://gorgelink.org/vaknin/janus-en.html

Take care.

Sam