Did you know?

The term ‘ narcissism’ originates from Greek mythology, when a hunter named Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.

Last winter, a friend told me she was considering a divorce. “I really think my husband is a narcissist!” she said. More recently, over brunch, an acquaintance explained his family dynamics: “My aunt is such a narcissist, we’re not sure why my uncle is with her.” The term ‘ narcissist’ has been widely deployed to describe not only a passel of difficult relatives and regretted exes, but also both nominees for President and the entire generation known as millennials. Is narcissism really so widespread or on the rise in the general population?

A growing consensus among psychologists says no, it isn’t. True pathological narcissism has always been rare and remains so. Most ( but not all) putative narcissists today are innocent victims of an overused label. They are normal individuals with healthy egos who may also happen to indulge in the occasional selfie and talk about their accomplishments. They may even be a bit vain. But while we’re diagnosing friends, relatives, and our kids’ classmates, true pathological narcissists may be evading detection because most of us don’t understand the many forms the condition may take.