narcissism

narcissism definition - medical

nar·cis·sism (närˈsĭ-sĭzˌəm) or nar·cism (närˈsĭzˌəm)

noun
  1. Excessive love or admiration of oneself.
  2. A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem.
  3. Erotic pleasure derived from contemplation or admiration of one's own body or self, especially as a fixation on or a regression to an infantile stage of development.
  4. The attribute of the human psyche characterized by admiration of oneself but within normal limits.

Related Forms:

  • narˈcis·sist noun

Related Forms:

  • narˌcis·sisˈtic adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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