CriticaLink | Freud: On Narcissism | Terms

In Freud's theory of narcissism, primary narcissism descibes the condition of all human infants in their exclusive focus on their own bodies and needs. From this original narcissism develop expressions of narcissism in adult life. Individuals who make narcissistic object choices direct their libido toward representations of themselves. All of us, however, experience secondary narcissism when we manage to conform to some aspect of our ideal ego--taking pride in our achievements, or realizing that other people are attracted to us.

• Adler, Alfred
• Bleuler, Eugen
• Busch, Wilhelm
• Ferenczi, Sándor
• Heine, Heinrich
• Jung, Carl Gustav
• Kraepelin, Emil

• anaclitic object choice
• anxiety neurosis
• cathexis
• Cogito
• dementia praecox
• erotogenicity
• hypochondria
• hysteria
• idealization
• instinct
• introversion
• libido
• narcissism
• narcissistic object choice
• neurasthenia
• neurosis
• Oedipus complex
• paraphrenia
• primary narcissism
• retrogression
• schizophrenia
• sublimation
• superego
• transference neuroses
• Umwelt
• vicissitude