Do narcissists have selective memory?
The reality is that most people with narcissistic personality disorder have a perfectly adequate memory. It is just highly selective and focused on what they want to be true.
Can narcissists be selective?
Just to make it even more complicated, consider that a narcissist can be selective in how/where they present their narcissism. “Narcissism can be very problematic in some relationships and environments and not in others,” says Reiss.
Why do narcissists have bad memories?
DISSOCIATIVE GAPS AND CONFABULATION Narcissists and psychopaths dissociate (erase memories) a lot (are amnesiac) because their contact with the world and with others is via a fictitious construct: The False Self. Narcissists never experience reality directly but through a distorting lens darkly.
Can you explain narcissism to a narcissist?
An often effective way to point out a person’s narcissism, while at the same time allowing the individual flexibility to change, is to separate the behavior from the person. For instance, instead of stating “you’re a narcissist,” say “you’re acting like a narcissist,” or “this [specify the behavior] is narcissistic.”
Do narcissists have a good memory?
The reality is that most people with narcissistic personality disorder have a perfectly adequate memory. It is just highly selective and focused on what they want to be true. They take Ray S. Jones position: “The truth is what we say it is…prove to me this desk is not a cow!”
Why do narcissists lose perspective?
Narcissists are overly focused on making their point right now and the larger context is unimportant to them. Again, this is a case where the person with NPD loses perspective because what they feel and want now is all that matters to them. How does this affect memory?
What causes selective memory loss?
Intentionally repressing a memory for long enough can cause one to forget it. This occurs because the brain becomes active when someone purposefully works to forget something. While selective memory is generally regarded as a negative happening, there are certain instances where it can come in handy.
What does it mean when a narcissist thinks you are special?
We are likely to notice things that relate to our current desires, fears, past traumas, or unmet needs from the past that are still active in the present. This means that when narcissists see you as special (all-good), they are literally only noticing and remembering the things about you that fit this view.