Definition of the word narcissistic

The word "narcissistic" originates from the story of Narcissus in Greek mythology. Narcissus was a handsome youth who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. He was so enamored with his own appearance that he couldn't tear himself away, and eventually, he perished. The myth of Narcissus was first recorded by the ancient Greek poet Ovid in his book "Metamorphoses". The term "narcissism" was first coined by the German psychologist Paul Näcke in 1899 to describe individuals who exhibited excessive self-love, self-admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Näcke was influenced by Ovid's story and used the myth of Narcissus as a metaphor for this disorder. Since then, the term "narcissistic" has been widely used to describe people with narcissistic personality disorder, characterized by grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.