Are actors infuriating narcissists?

Self-centered, conceited, conceited, self-centered – these are some variations on the idea of ​​being a narcissist. We need a healthy degree of positive self-esteem, of course, but when distorted, it is considered narcissism, a personality disorder in its extreme form.

Several actors have talked about some of the issues with being overly self-obsessed and how it interferes with creative expression.

Ben Affleck believes that narcissism is “the one quality that unites everyone in the film industry, whether you are an actor, producer, director or studio executive.”

But, he adds, “it’s a nightmare. Narcissism is the part of my personality that I’m least proud of.”

Kristen Bell says that for her movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” she “simply looked into the depths of the most difficult to admit or vulnerable or bad characteristics of my own personality and what an actress can become if given that kind of complacency or that amount of vanity. “

He also thinks that actors and especially actresses tend to become obsessed with themselves, because that is part of the nature of their career.

But what is narcissism? The basic idea is to be obsessively self-absorbed, always putting your own needs first, having little empathy or appreciation for other people’s needs, etc. But what is behind someone who operates that way?

Alice Miller writes in her book The Drama of the Gifted Child about childhood harm that leads to a compromised emotional life in adulthood, including those types of behaviors and thoughts.

She writes in the book about “how inconceivable it is to love others (not just need them), if one cannot love himself as he really is.”

For an actor, it can be difficult to maintain contact and love for his authentic self, if he continually represents “other people” and receives attention or even fame for those personalities.

Stephen Sherrill writes in his New York Times Acquired Situational Narcissism article about how fame can stimulate narcissism.

It refers to the work of Robert B. Millman, professor of psychiatry at Cornell School of Medicine, who developed the idea of ​​”acquired situational narcissism.”

Sherrill explains: “People who aspire to stardom tend to be more narcissistic than others, but they don’t develop true Narcissistic Personality Disorder until they start to achieve success: first platinum album, first appearance on ‘Young Hollywood’ from Vanity Fair “. theme, the first public affair with Winona Ryder “.

Having these types of narcissistic tendencies does not mean that you are “crazy” or that you necessarily need therapy.

But it can be helpful for our emotional growth and our power as creative people to be more aware of how we operate emotionally and mentally.

Richard Gere once commented, “The older I grow, the less I become this self-centered thing that is prone to anger, hatred, and all these other things. The trick is to get out of the ego path, so that everything of value will be You can see shining inside of you or me or the waiter or anyone else. The job of the creative person is to get out of the way. “

Actor Vera Farmiga warns: “This business is difficult, it is so difficult. But first and foremost, the ego always gets in the way. You have to keep that under control, you have to.”

There are many excellent personal growth books on emotional intelligence, spirituality, conscientiousness, and positive psychology that can help us develop healthy self-esteem.