A logical approach to the subject under consideration would be to start with a summary of Freud's 1914 paper “On Narcissism,” add to it all that Freud had to say subsequently on the subject, and then follow the evolution of the concept in the mainstream of psychoanalysis for the ensuing thirty-odd years. Our survey would then have to examine how the evolving concepts of narcissism affected metapsychology, clinical theory, and our understanding of the various forms of psychopathology (in terms of both etiology and pathogenesis). Finally, we would have to search for those contributions in this evolution which have affected the psychoanalytic treatment process, in its effort to deal with patients whose primary pathology is located in the narcissistic sector of the personality.

Instead of such a comprehensive survey—desirable as it would be—I will restrict myself to a few general statements about past contributions on the subject of narcissism.1 These should provide us with a perspective