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Narcissistic Abuse ~ When Your Partner Is the Only One
with Wishes Worthy of Respect
by Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D.
The disregard in relationships of narcissistic abuse is so poignant that it stops me in my tracks. When you see it in action, you may ask yourself how can a person have such little regard for the wishes and needs of their partner?
Answer: It is part of the psychopathology. Period. And when you understand the underlying dynamics, you see it for what it is: narcissistic abuse.
What Is Narcissistic Abuse?
The term “narcissistic abuse” originally emerged in the late twentieth century referring to a specific form of emotional abuse of children by narcissistic parents…“parents who require the child to give up their own wants and feelings in order to serve the parent’s needs for esteem, (which constitutes narcissistic abuse).” Online Wikipedia
The concept has also been used to describe forms of abuse in adult intimate relationships by individuals with narcissistic traits or a narcissistic personality disorder. As we look closer at the dynamics in play, you can clearly see the same relationship dysfunction: one Partner A requires the other less empowered Partner B to give up/ignore/disregard their personal wants and feelings in order to serve their (Partner A) own needs for esteem.
