Definition of the word narcissist

The term "narcissist" originates from Greek mythology. Narcissus was a handsome young man who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Unable to tear himself away, he eventually perished, stuck on his own beauty. The concept of narcissistic personality disorder was first described by Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud in his 1914 book "On Narcissism: An Introduction." Freud borrowed the term "narcissism" from the myth to describe a type of attitude where individuals have an excessive love for themselves, often to the point of ignoring others. The term gained widespread use in the 1950s and 1960s, and since then, it has become a common psychological diagnosis. Today, narcissistic personality disorder is recognized as a distinct mental health disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).