Editorial

Narcissism continues to pose a significant challenge in the realm of psychoanalysis. In this collection of articles, authors delve into the distinction between primary narcissism, characterized by a primitive world devoid of objects, and secondary narcissism, marked by the internalization of the object. They explore the influence of the environment in fostering secondary narcissism, the intricate connection between narcissism and identity, the presence of literary characters that embody psychoanalytic concepts of narcissism, and the interplay between narcissism and creativity.

Nadia Bujor dedicates her article “Primary Narcissism and Creativity”, to the understanding of primary narcissism and its connection to the biology underlying the shared experiences of human beings throughout history. She refers to the fundamental relationship between the Ego and the object that allows us to construct a world of representations. The narcissism of life, in this sense, belongs to this primary foundation within us but also stems from what the human being has progressively constructed within himself in a creative way, in the secondary process.

Radu Clit’s article “Narcissism and the Search of Sexual Identity” delves into the connection between narcissism and sexual identity by examining two clinical cases treated in individual psychotherapy and a psychiatric institution. The first case involves a patient struggling with sexual identity, anxiety, and psychotic manifestations. The author describes the patient’s relationship with a homophobic and ambivalent father, negatively impacting the patient’s narcissism. In the second case, the patient, deeply affected by the loss of his mother and childhood sexual abuse, exhibits suicidal tendencies and is under antipsychotic treatment.