Setting boundaries in relationships
According to a study by the University of Texas at Austin and Clemson University in South Carolina, there is a clear correlation between people who have low self-esteem and are prone to narcissism. And the longer you have been in a relationship with somebody, the more likely they are to exhibit narcissistic tendencies. In response, it's important for people to define boundaries at an early stage of their relationships so that they can avoid these issues later on. Boundaries are crucial in helping people identify their needs and desires, and to avoid giving too much of themselves to the other. People who refuse to set guidelines in their relationships tend to be more needy and possessive, which makes them feel insecure. They, therefore, feel the need to assert themselves by becoming overbearing with these relationships.
Source: www.thecut.com
So what causes someone to be narcissistic? According to the aforementioned study by University Texas and Clemson University, when we are young, our parents play a big role in influencing us and teaching us how to behave. They are usually seen as the authority figures that we often look up to. There are two main ways people can be taught: emotionally or physically. Physical examples can be seen through religious or political beliefs. Emotional examples can be seen through parents who demand perfection, which often makes their children feel they have to work harder to achieve that goal. This imbalance between perfectionism and reality is a clear example of how narcissism grows when these children grow into adults.
Source: www.theconversation.com
Source: www.psychologytoday.com
In the United States, clinicians are subject to a set of rules and regulations known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient privacy by preventing medical information from being disclosed without a person's consent. Interestingly, this law was conceived in the 1990s, long before the rise of social media made it easier to stalk previous partners and acquaintances on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. However, one must take into consideration that there is always a loophole to any rule. Should a patient refuse to give consent to allow the release of their medical information, it is possible for disclosure to be made in the interest of medicine, public health or national security.
Source: www.theconversation.com
Narcissists are people who have a willingness to accept praise and admiration from others and will often put themselves above others, including their family members and friends. They then become extremely jealous when they see other people getting the attention that they believe they deserve. People who are narcissistic feel threatened when someone is successful in life because it means that they will not be able to live up to that person's standards anymore. They feel as if their achievements were small compared to the person they envy.
In the book "The Essential Enneagram", by Riso, Hudson and Platt, there are nine different categories of narcissism:
People who are on this path believe that they are superior to others. They tend to consider themselves to be majestic, powerful and intelligent. They want others to admire them and will often argue with anyone who dares disagree with them. People on this path tend not to pursue higher education because they don't believe that it will help them achieve their goals in life. They are more likely to live in smaller towns, where there is less competition and a greater chance of being recognized as someone special. They are also often seen "saving" others or giving people the opportunity to earn their admiration.
People on this path are jealous of other people who achieve success. They believe that their achievements were small compared to the person they envy, and often feel as if they have been undervalued. It's not uncommon for them to try to make themselves look better than they actually are by exaggerating what they have achieved in order to make themselves feel greater than other people. Those who are on this path are often at the top of their career, but don't think that their success will last very long. They constantly need reassurance from other people that they are great and often become very angry when they don't receive the attention they believe they deserve.
People who are on this path want to be seen as the best in anything that they do. They have a strong sense of pride in their work and believe that no one else could do what they can to the same quality. They want people to love them for who they are and don't care if others don't agree with them.
People who are on this path will do anything they can to boost their own self-esteem. They often expect to be put on a pedestal by other people, and will go out of their way to gain the admiration of others. They also have a strong sense of entitlement, meaning that they believe they deserve more than others without having to work for it.
People on this path feel as if they don't get the respect that they deserve from other people, or that their achievements are not being recognized as much as someone else who is doing the same job or something similar. They believe that they are undervalued and there is a lot of competition in everything that they do, especially from other people who share the same interests.
People on this path are often seen as generous, sweet and responsible. They don't like to make a big deal out of anything, and will only do so if it's absolutely necessary. They will try to be humble and often put other people before themselves.
People on this path are often seen as selfish, arrogant and opportunistic. Those who are on this path want things to be done their way or not at all. They tend to ignore others' opinions about their own life choices, doing things their own way no matter what anyone else thinks. People on this path may also have a fear of being hurt by other people, and therefore they reject the idea of having close relationships with people who can harm them in any way.
People on this path are often seen as being cruel and selfish. They enjoy using people and manipulating them in order to get their own way. They don't care about what other people think of them, and will go out of their way to hurt or deceive other people to get what they want. Relatedly, narcissists tend to have a very high self-esteem, believing that they are better than other people.
Source: enneagramonline.com
Source: enneagramonline.
Conclusion
The enneagram is not only helpful in understanding people's behavior, but also can provide meditation techniques, yoga practices and information on how to increase our personal happiness.
The enneagram is useful in understanding your personality and the characteristics of other people from the 9 styles. You will be able to predict how you react in certain situations and how other people are likely to respond. You may find that you are similar to someone with a particular style or have a reaction much like a person with that style would have. The enneagram can help you understand these differences better and improve your relationships.