ABSTRACT
At the icy heart of narcissism is the conviction that one is better than others; higher in status, more attractive, smarter, more influential. Ironically, the , narcissist's ability to stand alone and above others is highly dependent on the behavior of those others. One cannot be admired without someone doing the admiring; one cannot associate with the rich and famous without close proximity to those rich and famous. Without social relationships, a narcissist would have to engage in more isolated forms of self-regulation—living in a cabin and struggling to engage with others by writing manifestos, perhaps.
