Gender Differences:Does the following explain why many more men suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Question

Gender issues
‘The high preponderance of male patients in studies of narcissism has prompted researchers to explore the effects of gender roles on this particular personality disorder. Some have speculated that the gender imbalance in NPD results from society's disapproval of self-centered and exploitative behavior in women, who are typically socialized to nurture, please, and generally focus their attention on others.'
http://www.minddisorders.com/Kau-Nu/Narcissistic-personality-disorder.html

What do you think about it?

It is obvious that gender differences exist. If you agree with the statement above, what do you propose should be done? If you don't agree, then what do you attribute the gender differences to?

"Just Another Man" - great response, perceptive, absolutely fabulous. You are correct on EVERY score...now go back and answer (more of) the question, lol!

Errr...Porwine...this is borne out in the empirical evidence. There is no caveat, there is no arguing (nor excusing or projecting or denying, etc. )
This factoid simply IS.

Portwine, I forgot to add: NPD is diagnosed in adults only (persons over the age of 18). Them's the rules (check out what the DSM says about it and you'll see I've done my homework). This right there makes your allegation impossible.

Answer 1

It could be a factor in the disorder id say, but there could be many factors into what is the cause. from what i read on it seems that some form of deep hidden fillings from some form of abuse is more pointed at it. It is believed that the stages of which was from a young age.

it is also believed that only 1% of the population has it but yes 50 to 75% of the cases are belived to affect men more.

I my self do not see this as a misandry loaded question and is a good point to bring up but perhaps it is in the wrong area for it because it could be seen as being used as nothing more then a tool to discredit men.

lol ah i cant im getting to tired hehehe past my bed time hehehe. maybe tomorrow ill look them over ok.

Answer 2

Here's the thing... knowing what NPD criteria lists yeah, I can see how there may be a higher preponderance of male patients with the disorder, but I can also see how it may be misdiagnosed based on the how men are typically socialized in certain cultures to be. The key to this diagnosis though should surround two major areas... "Lacking empathy"... and does this happen in ALL areas of his life?? With the internet... and the buzz of diagnosing people and medicating people for various Mental Health disorders some factors are not always concidered... How women show empathy and how men show empathy may be in two very different ways... it is important to determine and concider how each individual expresses empathy... and... many males may be concidered VERY narcissistic in their jobs... the need to get ahead... the PRESSURE to get ahead... but how are they with their friends and their families??

Socialization has a BIG BIG part in how women and men are diagnosed with various disorders... and keep in mind... as each new DSM version is printed... it is possible that some of the diagnosis criteria might change...

Answer 3

The study sounds plausible, I've read something similar before (I was a psych major, so I've read about it a bit).

I remember when women were declared "hysterical" and treated for acting differently or wanting something different than being a wife and mother. Talk about a gender role based disorder! I read Women and Madness in my Women's Psych class (by Phyllis Chesler) and it was thoroughly depressing how punished women were for trying to be anything but the way a "lady should be".

If we reach more equality, than hopefully NPD will decline in men. It makes you wonder if NPD will then increase in women, if it would actually be ok for women to be self-centered instead of nurturing.

But I can't help wondering how much both men's and women's mental health could be improved if we weren't expected to live a lie and play a gender role, versus living a life we choose.

Answer 4

I believe that most males are "legends in their own minds". Females no longer accept being shoved into a social role. It is totally possible for a female to enjoy a successful career, AND be nurturing. Males really do resent the successful intrusion by females into previously defined male arenas. You guys did it to yourselves; because you accorded so little value to the position of homemaker/mother. Get over it. I'll just betcha a large preponderance of males would refuse the benefits provided by a wife with a 6 figure salary.

Answer 5

But check out the incidence of Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder at the same site.
___Note also the difference in the tone of the way the authors treat the high-female-incidence disorders and the high-male-incidence disorders. They qualify and almost apologize for the former, while implying the usual feminist reasons why men are bad in the latter. This isn't a reliable source.

Answer 6

I disagree with the statement that "...women are socialized to nurture, please, and generally..."

I don't believe it's a socialization process, I think it's inherent. That's how we survived so long - so far anyway. And why would the imbalance occur because women don't suffer NPD? Is this implying that SOMEBODY has to have it and if not women, then men? If so, then,

What would happen if both genders were the caregivers? What would happen if both genders were Narcissistic?

Answer 7

That's a very interesting hypothesis. It seems true to me. I know we may have more women in congress and legislatures. I heard woman legislators tend sort things out and compromise but still make progress.

You look at popular male sports like Football and Boxing one is always the winner and 1 is always the loser.

Answer 8

Females are disproportionately brought up that way, but somewhere after 19 years old, many of them match and overtake men in narcissism. You probably could made such a statement 20 years ago and had a point.

Answer 9

Don't We all just love a generalization? They sell books, give the uninformed an opinion and help to create false impressions.

Answer 10

Men are narcissistic because they were raised by women who doted and waited on them like they didn't have any hands and feet to go get what they need themselves. They grow up and get married and want a woman that understands and resonds to me, me, me, me, me.