Millon comments on the
narcissistic person’s mood and temperament as follows: “Roused by
the facile workings of their imagination, narcissistic people experience
a pervasive sense of well-being in their everyday lives, a buoyancy of
mood, and an optimism of outlook—except when their sense of superiority
has been punctured. Normally, however, affect—although based often
on their semigrandiose distortions of reality—is generally relaxed, if
not cheerful and carefree. There is a general air of nonchalance,
an imperturbability, a feigned tranquility. Should the balloon be
burst, however, there is a rapid turn to either an edgy irritability and
annoyance with others or repeated bouts of dejection that are characterized
by feeling humiliated and empty. Shaken by these circumstances, one
is likely to see briefly displayed a vacillation between rage, shame, and
feelings of emptiness.”1
Return to Associated Features
Click on the note number to return to where
you were above; click on the author's name to go to the bibliographic entry.
1Millon,
1998, p. 88