Help! I need to know about Narcissism
The word ‘narcissism’ may create images of people taking ‘selfies’, maintaining an attractive image on social media or something similar. True narcissism however is something far more serious. It destroys communities, churches, marriages, families and individuals. It is not just a case of people showing-off. True narcissism is destructive and needs to be understood. In this booklet John Steley explores the effects of narcissism on the family and the church. He also discusses how to recognise narcissism and provides a Christian response.
Publisher: Day One
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781846256332
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John Steley has worked as a psychologist in NHS and forensic settings. He also spent ten years working with church, Christian mission and overseas aid staff. He now has a private practice in London.
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Narcissism is a recognised psychological pathology, a pathology subject to clinical diagnosis and a pathology that can carry unfortunate consequences both for the afflicted individual and for those to whom that individual relates, in the sense of family, friends, colleagues and clients. Like other clinical psychopathologies, narcissism is also prevalent in a subclinical form. Subclinical narcissism may thrive within a number of institutional contexts and may thrive particularly well within Christian communities and churches. Christian theologies may be particularly adept at providing cloaks within which subclinical narcissism may thrive. Doctrines of divine calling both empower narcissists to exert their power and to discourage others from challenging such power. Several recent studies have drawn attention to the ‘plague of narcissistic pastors’. In this brief and skilfully crafted booklet, John Steley wants to help lay Christians recognise the characteristic behaviour of ‘narcissism in the pulpit’. He writes as someone who ‘has worked as a psychologist in NHS and forensic settings’ and as someone who has worked in ‘church and Christian mission’ settings. He writes from professional expertise and from personal experience. Professor Leslie Francis