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Can There Ever Be Enough Me? Narcissism and the Positive Death of Self

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The Positive Psychology of Personal Transformation

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Abstract

Western, non-Buddhist psychology is all about self, and usually in a very positive way (with one major exception as we shall see). As a result, self-esteem and self-concept (and the lack of them) are topics of a great deal of psychological research and speculation in our psychological tradition. At the same time, the relationship of self to others is understood to be central to a healthy development of self. “Attachment” is considered one of the pillars of mental health (at least if it is “secure” rather than “anxious-ambivalent,” “anxious-avoidant,” or “disorganized”). Attachment theories start with a focus on the human tendency to seek closeness to another human being, with the result being the child feels secure when that person is present – and anxious when that person is not present [1]. It’s a positive need, and meeting it creates positive spin-offs for a lifetime – positive psychology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology Center for the Human Rights of Children, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL, 60660, USA

    James Garbarino

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  1. James Garbarino
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Correspondence to James Garbarino .

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Garbarino, J. (2011). Can There Ever Be Enough Me? Narcissism and the Positive Death of Self. In: The Positive Psychology of Personal Transformation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7744-1_5

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