Etiology of the Masochistic and Narcissistic Personality

Some commonalities have been noted in the psychoanalytic literature between the masochistic and narcissistic personality. Cooper (1988) describes a masochistic-narcissistic character that shares a number of personality characteristics including perfectionistic strivings, the need to feel special, and feelings of grandiosity and insignificance. Additionally, Stolorow (1975) describes some of the narcissistic functions of masochism including restoring self-cohesion. Finally, Glickauf-Hughes and Wells (1995) note the predominance of narcissistic issues in masochistic patients including problems in self-esteem regulation, audience sensitivity, imposter feelings, and a proclivity to form narcissistic collusions or idealizing transferences.

In describing the differential etiology of masochism and narcissism, it has previously been suggested that these disorders are the result of two different types of family constellations. The family of the masochist has been characterized as being highly unpredictable (Glickauf-Hughes and Wells, 1991). This includes parental ambivalence (Bromberg, 1955; Berliner, 1958), which is often manifested by parents intermittently reinforcing and punishing the child for the same behavior (Glickauf-Hughes and Wells, 1991). found that what was significant with masochistic patients was not a pattern of harsh authority but rather the lack of consistent rational authority.

Furthermore, Menaker (1953) observed that parents of masochists compensate for lack of sufficient positive maternal feelings by infantalizing and overprotecting their children. Children in such environments are often only able to secure love through misbehavior or becoming physically ill , causing them to believe that they are most loved when they are suffering.

Glickauf-Hughes and Wells (1995) believe that parental inconsistency and infantilization may contribute to the anxious attachment and low selfesteem