Narcissistic personality disorder as a regression to a preoedipal phase of phallic narcissism

The Narcissistic Personality Disorder in males is described in terms of the presenting picture and the psychodynamics involving unconscious phallic narcissistic transferences and wishes. A regression to preoedipal phallic narcissism is reconstructed as having occurred in childhood. The permanency of this regression prior to analysis gives an impression of great tenacity and pathology, as if the narcissism had been arrested in its development. However, oedipal dynamics and transference neuroses do emerge from repression after several years of analysis. A hypothesis is proposed in agreement with the findings of Edgcumbe and Burgner (1975) that a preoedipal phase of phallic narcissism is a regular and universal phase of childhood development. A further hypothesis is offered based on the implications of the findings of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, that a two-step sequence of narcissistic development, followed by object libidinal development, occurs in the oral, anal, and phallic erotogenic zones. This hypothesis suggests the idea of three different types of Narcissistic Personality Disorders: the oral, the anal, and the phallic varieties.