Narcissism: Is it Evil?

By Lori Lines

Clinical or Cavalier?
When exploring whether narcissism is evil, we must first distinguish between narcissistic personality disorder, a mental illness, and a narcissistic or egocentric person. Those who suffer from mental illness should never be vilified. As a society, we should instead support the availability of necessary resources and encourage those in need to seek them. For our purposes, when we refer to narcissism and narcissistic individuals, we mean people without a clinical diagnosis who

• Believe they do not need to follow the rules or norms
• Feel entitled to what they want when they want
• Lack of awareness regarding their behaviors and impact
• Feel no remorse or guilt for their actions or beliefs
• Feel superior to everyone
• Have no empathy 
• Exploit people
• Abuse power
• Value recognition, power, and wealth at the expense of all else

As a final note, those who are clinically narcissistic often have a very fragile, low sense of self-worth. Whereas non-pathological narcissists tend to view themselves with so much grandeur, it reaches megalomanic extremes. 

The Unconscious Choice
Let’s face it, given the decision between being a likable, considerate, and humble person and a haughty, condescending, and oppressive person, the choice is clear. Very few people consciously choose to be narcissistic because selfish people are social pariahs. Yet, some still make the unconscious choice of narcissism. But why?
There are many reasons why people subconsciously choose to view the world through a narcissistic lens. They may

• View themselves as the center of the universe
• Believe others view them as the center of the universe
• Fear accountability and hard work
• Feel safer behind the wall of inauthenticity
• Think it is cool, confident, or attractive
• View themselves as deserving or overdue
• Want to hide the pain of a known emotional wound
• Want to repress the pain of an unknown wound

Of course, we can all be unconsciously egotistical from time to time. We might assume that we contributed the best ideas at the meeting, our favorite shows are superior to those of our spouse or roommate, or that we deserve to be mom’s/dad’s/our children’s favorite child or parent because of all we do for them. It’s normal and even healthy to know that we are unique and maybe a cut above in some areas of expertise and competency. It becomes unhealthy, toxic, and extreme when narcissists start to view the whole world as beneath them, believing everyone should acquiesce to, and mold their lives around, their narcissistic demands.

But Is It Evil?
Here are a few examples of narcissism at work. You can be the judge of whether it is evil or not…
The totalitarian dictator who expects the complete subservience of his people. When his regime leads to war and famine, dissenters are imprisoned or killed to protect his image as a leader of a utopian nation. 

The starlet who has plastic surgeons, chefs, ateliers, makeup artists, and photo editors to perfect her image. When asked how she looks so flawless, she tells her impressionable audience it is diet and exercise, causing her fans to strive for unattainable ideals and suffer from a lack of self-worth.

The husband who feels that his wife and children owe him for what he provides. So, he cheats on his wife and abuses his family without guilt or remorse because he feels entitled as “the man of the house.”

So, is narcissism immoral? Is a narcissistic person against the common good? If you agree it is, then that means the egocentric worldview and the behavior it inspires on the individual, societal, and global levels is innately evil by definition.
 
The Root of Evil
A wound is often where the seed of narcissism is planted. Almost all narcissists are wounded. However, not all are self-aware enough to realize that they are. While others acknowledge their trauma but are too afraid or don’t hold themselves accountable for healing it. As a result, they abuse and exploit others to try and balance the scales of injustice or project accountability for their pain relief on those around them.

It is a vicious cycle because they keep going from relationship to relationship, be it romantic, platonic, or familial, wounding others, resulting in their rejection at the end of a long and bitter emotional game of tug of war. This in turn triggers their trauma of abandonment, rejection, or unworthiness, until they find someone else to wound.
 
Often, we think that infamous reality stars, celebrities, professional athletes, influencers, and corrupt politicians make the unconscious choice of narcissism out of an intense obsession with power, fame, and money. However, no matter how famous or infamous they are, almost all narcissists are the same. Their lust for control and wealth is only a symptom of a deeper wound of inferiority, rejection, erasure, abuse, oppression, and abandonment. 

Unfortunately, the impressionable audience of political pantomime or unreal reality shows is conditioned to believe that the narcissistic way of life is the secret to success. “Me first. Me at the expense of others. Me at all costs” becomes the toxic and evil way of life for the masses who hungrily consume the media. As a result, we become a culture where narcissism is not just acceptable; it becomes cool, attractive, and admirable.
 
Hope Begins in The Dark
So, is that it? Are we just meant to walk around on narcissistic eggshells, trying to avoid injury or insult? Don’t worry; Where there is shadow, there must be light! This is to say, even though narcissists can be construed as evil or have evil tendencies, they could play a higher role in spiritual awakening to those willing to seek it.
 
Narcissism has been called a voluntary blindness, an agreement not to look beneath the surface.  But, when we are willing to nullify this unspoken agreement with the narcissistic mind or culture, we illuminate everything that hides behind it, the wounds of the narcissist, the societal façades, and even our own wounds and limiting beliefs that allow us to become victims, to begin with. 

When we break free from the oppressive evil of narcissism, we learn to hold ourselves accountable for our own healing, well-being, growth, and awakening. It is rather magical and miraculous how such self-serving energy can, in fact, serve others, teaching us to take better care of, and accountability for, ourselves, our intentions, and our journey. In this way, we are no longer victims of narcissism; we are its pupils!

“The Only Good Is Knowledge, The Only Evil Is Ignorance” 
Fundamentally, narcissism is the willful ignorance of the needs, desires, and worth of other people, nations, cultures, or societies. It is choosing to ignore all else to further one’s own intentions and desires. Good is when we can acknowledge and embrace the merit of all people and societies and their inherent right to pursue their own needs and goals. Ultimately, isn’t that what awakening truly is?

To ascend to 5th-dimensional consciousness, we must be willing to honor ourselves as individuals while embracing the oneness of the universe and unity of being. When we take an honest, objective look into the world of narcissism, we can see its hidden truth. And while this truth is dark, it can illuminate the path of enlightenment. 

In love and truth,
​Lori Lines