Narcissism Among Elites: A Fatal Threat and the Solution:
In his book "Shortcut for a Better Life", the writer Ziad Rayess mentions: How do we work to save the elites and the entities they represent by ensuring consultation and collective decision-making? Today I want to speak about the elite, by which I mean people who are exceptionally generous, knowledgeable, hardworking, educated, and experienced, or exceptional in other ways. I mean scientists, men of religion, businessmen, and everyone who excels in many aspects of public and community service.
These people are humans so they are vulnerable to all types of human maladies, including mental illnesses, defects in ways of thinking, and narcissism, which gives the person the idea that they can control everything with their thinking.
By narcissism, I mean what has been defined as unconscious love for oneself, grandiosity, attachment to oneself, and giving oneself undue importance. Much of the time, narcissism may not come from the person themselves, but gradually penetrates their soul with the more praise they get from others, the more relationships they have, and the more prestige they gain.
Narcissism requires a friendly environment and circumstances that nourish it and constantly strengthen it until it overpowers and kills its host, unless the host becomes aware of it or how dangerous and harmful it is.
Some of the main elements of an environment that fosters narcissism can be described as positive, while others can be described as negative. Some elements are personal characteristics of the person themselves. Some arise from their environment.
Some of these elements are: The person is exceptionally giving and hard-working, more so than the people around them. They also have an obvious and exceptional level of knowledge, perhaps in a certain salient aspect of life. The person might also have moral and material support from people around them. These people might not be particularly well-known, the narcissist may have a foundation of important social, formal, and casual relationships in their own community.
One of the main elements of an environment that fosters narcissism is continuously receiving well-wishes and praise from those around them, doubtlessly for important or valuable work. The longer the praise continues, the more their pride in their opinions is inflated. Next, an internal arrogance toward others develops. The narcissist shuns and avoids the guidance and criticism of people close to them, to the point of separation and independence. They do so either to preserve the cordial relationship or to progress in their career.
When all escalatory factors come together, what appears is a differentiation of opinion and complete conviction that they’re right. They cling to what they feel as if it’s the only correct opinion. A narcissist will go to extremes and cross red lines, to the point that they can no longer fairly and intelligently judge anything. The narcissist lives in a fantasy world that gives them the idea that everything they do is right. It provides them with the necessary legitimacy to do whatever comes to mind.
Then the toxic infiltration of the mind begins, whether they are an individual, a legal entity, or an organization. The differences begin to emerge and escalate little by little, until they spill out into the open, and the narcissist begins to deteriorate, killed from the inside.
These entities and elites must watch out. They can protect themselves by consulting with others, making group decisions, and being honest but kind. They have to consistently derive strength from gathering and making group decisions, regardless of what they want personally. If they don’t, any entity is vulnerable to the consequences of fatal narcissism.
Conclusion:
The article outlines the dangers of narcissism and how it can affect even the most talented and accomplished individuals and organizations. It emphasizes the importance of collective decision-making and consultation to protect oneself against the negative effect of narcissism. By being open and honest, elites and entities can create a positive environment that fosters healthy decision-making and prevents the toxic infiltration of the mind. Ultimately, by working together and being aware of the risks of narcissism, both individuals and organizations can protect themselves and thrive in the long run.
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