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Numerous papers have been devoted to the study of individual narcissism.1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 We will examine our concept of narcissism as a dyadic phenomenon, especially in reference to its impact on the dynamics of the family system. Our contention is that dyadic relationships in particular, and family systems in general, contribute to the creation of narcissism in the individual and to observable, patterned, repetitive behavior between partners. Once this partnership is institutionalized, it contributes to the perpetuation of narcissism in the individual. We have classified this phenomenon as narcissistic dyadic relationships.
Recently there has been much written about a functional concept of narcissism. Specifically, Stolorow pointed out that “Mental activity is narcissistic to the degree that its function is to maintain the structural cohesiveness, temporal stability and positive affective colouring of the self-representation.13 We believe that narcissistic patterns function to maintain the self-representation of the individual, and that behavior is primarily labeled as narcissistic insofar as it contributes to maintain the status of the self-representation.
Lichtenstein8 pointed out that narcissism does not refer to love of oneself, but to the love of one's own “mirror image.” It follows that object relationships become narcissistic whenever there are regressive efforts on the part of the individual to maintain an identity through the mirroring of the self in the object. As is pointed out by Eisnitz,3 the individual chooses specific objects toward whom he will relate narcissistically in order to stabilize and supplement a poor self-image. An individual may relate to an object's magic attributes and establish a narcissistic relationship with the object in order to supplement the deficiencies in the self-image. In essence, the object functions