ABSTRACT
This chapter explores pathological narcissism, as this is relevant to the exploration of bridges, above all of broken or damaged ones. Like Narcissus, who could love no other than himself, so the narcissistic individual is so self-absorbed and so enamoured of himself that he has no bridges through which to relate to or to value others. Such pathological narcissism, being in fact a compensation for an early and deeply felt narcissistic wound, obstructs and actually destroys the bridges to a true self. The individual is thus left with an idealized and phoney illusory self, which is essentially rootless and fragile. Thus the pathological narcissist is bereft of bridges to his own self or to other persons or group of persons. He remains vulnerable, isolated, insubstantial, and without reliable guide-lines or understanding that could steer efficiently his relationship to self and to others.
