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The Nature and Nurture of Narcissism: Understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder from the Perspective of Gene - Environment Interaction
What Causes Narcissism?
The world has been indoctrinated with the false notion that narcissism is the result of a bad childhood.
It’s as if narcissists have been granted immunity from responsibility. Mental health professionals - and the general public alike - seem more than willing to offer narcissists a perfectly convenient trauma.
The goal of this book, using the most recent empirical evidence on the etiology and treatment of narcissistic personality disorder - is to dispel the widely held and already discredited myth that narcissism is the result of childhood trauma. Despite evidence to the contrary, this widely held myth continues to prevail in popular media and culture.
This book aims to correct the mistakes related to the cause of narcissism so that mental health practitioners and the general public will have a scientifically informed understanding of etiology and intervention. Because the reality is that almost everything we have been taught about the cause of narcissism…is wrong.
The world has been indoctrinated with the false notion that narcissism is the result of a bad childhood.
It’s as if narcissists have been granted immunity from responsibility. Mental health professionals - and the general public alike - seem more than willing to offer narcissists a perfectly convenient trauma.
The goal of this book, using the most recent empirical evidence on the etiology and treatment of narcissistic personality disorder - is to dispel the widely held and already discredited myth that narcissism is the result of childhood trauma. Despite evidence to the contrary, this widely held myth continues to prevail in popular media and culture.
This book aims to correct the mistakes related to the cause of narcissism so that mental health practitioners and the general public will have a scientifically informed understanding of etiology and intervention. Because the reality is that almost everything we have been taught about the cause of narcissism…is wrong.
- GenresPsychologyMental Health
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2024
56 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 25, 2024
I’m unsure of this book because I still have some questions
How can a narcissistic person know who to say EVIL things infront of and who to stay quiet around? If you have ever encountered a narc it’s like speaking with the devil..their behaviour is too calculated. I don’t believe it’s possible to turn the “gene” on and off… their behaviour is too calculated and the individual is too aware of what they are doing.
I had a friend I knew her from 12 yrs old to 36 -around the age of 25 is when I noticed something was very off with her. It’s like she wouldn’t be happy until she had sucked the life out of me. I never saw this behaviour in her before the age of 25 so did this gene just suddenly show up? I’m confused ?
Also how come narcissistic behaviour is more dominant in certain cultures ?
How can some narc’s be WELL aware of their evil deeds because they “covertly do them” which shows awareness that it is wrong….but still continue to do them even though they know they are doing bad things to people ? That to me is just selfish behaviour and they need to be held accountable for it.
My ex friend would try to bait me into arguments.
She didn’t have a family so she was jealous of me spending time with them and would call me with fake emergencies.
She would try to sabotage any positive plans for example going to the gym, she never stepped foot in the place as she was overweight and hated anything fitness related, so she even went to the lengths of calling a trainer at my gym..pretended she wanted a pt session with him, never turned up for the session and said the reason she didn’t go was because she believed that me and the trainer had been laughing at her behind her back. Straight lunacy.
Her whole aura oozed jealousy not of just me but anyone who was happy and doing well in life.
The narcissist I knew “acted oblivious” to everything to not take accountability as a grown adult
Felt entitled to my time
Entitled to know every detail of my life
Didn’t understand or respect personal boundaries when it came to asking personal questions.
Wanted to know how much I earned how I earned it how much I’d saved what I owed..how much family and partner earned…which normal person asks these invasive questions and fair demands the answers?…only to collect all this information to see how it can be used against me to gain control over me and my life and feel below her so she could feel superior?
A narcissist is a monster..they made a decision to do bad and be bitter to others long ago…they think that they can deny their wrong doings and in everyone else’s mind it is erased. Complete lunacy.
Doesn’t this book give narcissists more of a way out for their EVIL manipulative mind games by them saying… I can’t help it it’s my genes…I was born different?
This book unfortunately left me with more questions lol
How can a narcissistic person know who to say EVIL things infront of and who to stay quiet around? If you have ever encountered a narc it’s like speaking with the devil..their behaviour is too calculated. I don’t believe it’s possible to turn the “gene” on and off… their behaviour is too calculated and the individual is too aware of what they are doing.
I had a friend I knew her from 12 yrs old to 36 -around the age of 25 is when I noticed something was very off with her. It’s like she wouldn’t be happy until she had sucked the life out of me. I never saw this behaviour in her before the age of 25 so did this gene just suddenly show up? I’m confused ?
Also how come narcissistic behaviour is more dominant in certain cultures ?
How can some narc’s be WELL aware of their evil deeds because they “covertly do them” which shows awareness that it is wrong….but still continue to do them even though they know they are doing bad things to people ? That to me is just selfish behaviour and they need to be held accountable for it.
My ex friend would try to bait me into arguments.
She didn’t have a family so she was jealous of me spending time with them and would call me with fake emergencies.
She would try to sabotage any positive plans for example going to the gym, she never stepped foot in the place as she was overweight and hated anything fitness related, so she even went to the lengths of calling a trainer at my gym..pretended she wanted a pt session with him, never turned up for the session and said the reason she didn’t go was because she believed that me and the trainer had been laughing at her behind her back. Straight lunacy.
Her whole aura oozed jealousy not of just me but anyone who was happy and doing well in life.
The narcissist I knew “acted oblivious” to everything to not take accountability as a grown adult
Felt entitled to my time
Entitled to know every detail of my life
Didn’t understand or respect personal boundaries when it came to asking personal questions.
Wanted to know how much I earned how I earned it how much I’d saved what I owed..how much family and partner earned…which normal person asks these invasive questions and fair demands the answers?…only to collect all this information to see how it can be used against me to gain control over me and my life and feel below her so she could feel superior?
A narcissist is a monster..they made a decision to do bad and be bitter to others long ago…they think that they can deny their wrong doings and in everyone else’s mind it is erased. Complete lunacy.
Doesn’t this book give narcissists more of a way out for their EVIL manipulative mind games by them saying… I can’t help it it’s my genes…I was born different?
This book unfortunately left me with more questions lol
October 27, 2024
Myth busting
This book was practical, educational and compassionate without engaging in many of the current issues of'othering'; it simply discusses the need for critical thought and medical diagnosis of personality disorders, busting the myth of trauma equals narcissism while allowing for early interventions and treatment to flow from these insights.
This book was practical, educational and compassionate without engaging in many of the current issues of'othering'; it simply discusses the need for critical thought and medical diagnosis of personality disorders, busting the myth of trauma equals narcissism while allowing for early interventions and treatment to flow from these insights.
April 20, 2025
Written by a therapist determined to set the record straight, this book by Dr. Peter Salerno dispels
the misinformation & myth of narcissism. Where all the other books I've read, never seemed a good fit, every page of this book rings true. Especially helpful if you've searched high & low for answers for the fog of confusion & suffering narcissism leaves in its wake. If you're at all interested or touched by it, this should be your first stop. Concise, direct and well-researched, both by a victim's experience & professional therapist, this book's for anyone questioning how & what they're going through. A super read for other counselors and therapists, who want to up their understanding.
the misinformation & myth of narcissism. Where all the other books I've read, never seemed a good fit, every page of this book rings true. Especially helpful if you've searched high & low for answers for the fog of confusion & suffering narcissism leaves in its wake. If you're at all interested or touched by it, this should be your first stop. Concise, direct and well-researched, both by a victim's experience & professional therapist, this book's for anyone questioning how & what they're going through. A super read for other counselors and therapists, who want to up their understanding.
January 27, 2025
Ground-breaking & brilliant synthesis of currently available scientific research into the cause of narcissistic personality disorder. This book is turning decades of inane psychological myth on its head. At long last, intellectual acumen & scientific rigor are influencing clinical psychology. Better late than never, as I'm sure the author would agree. Bravo for this academically astute work, written in accessible language for the general public as well as for mental health clinicians. Spoiler alert: the cause of NPD is much more "nature" than "nurture".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
a must read to understand narcissism
I was raised by an alcoholic narcissist mother and alcoholic father as an only child. Then i married a narcissist and suffered for 32 years. This book is a MUST READ to understand who you dealt or are dealing with. It’s validating and so helpful in understanding what happened and is happening. Thank you
I was raised by an alcoholic narcissist mother and alcoholic father as an only child. Then i married a narcissist and suffered for 32 years. This book is a MUST READ to understand who you dealt or are dealing with. It’s validating and so helpful in understanding what happened and is happening. Thank you
September 9, 2024
This book was extremely informative and helpful in identifying the true reasons behind narcissism and why caretakers fall in to their roles. It was very beneficial in helping me further understand NPD.
December 8, 2024
This book was so insightful and eye opening! Dr. Salerno’s take on narcissism is controversial, but makes so much sense! I learned so much!
April 28, 2025
A quick read but full of very helpful information. I highly recommend it. Thank you for this very helpful and informative book. It contained a lot of information that most books on this topic don’t.
July 12, 2025
Excellent book
Wow, this is a must-read for anyone who has experienced abuse from a narcissist. This book has helped me to feel validated and helped my healing immensely. Thank you.
Wow, this is a must-read for anyone who has experienced abuse from a narcissist. This book has helped me to feel validated and helped my healing immensely. Thank you.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews