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Article: Narcissus on the job.(narcissistic managers)
- Article from:
- Modern Machine Shop
- Article date:
- September 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Gardner Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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According to Greek mythology, Narcissus was a young man who loved no one. The gods made him fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. And since he could not embrace this watery image, he moped and brooded and pined away. Eventually he was transformed into a flower, a narcissus or daffodil.
The personality disorder known as narcissism is perhaps the most durable and consistent pathological condition among the ranks of managers today. It is characterized by self-centeredness, self-interest, manipulativeness and a lack of empathy. While individuals with this condition often achieve high corporate positions, their lives are not very satisfying.