Is it me? Am I losing my mind? Living with intimate male partners presenting with subjective narcissistic behaviours and attitudes

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2020-08-27
Authors
Lane, Sherry Lynn Saunders
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Mainstream culture and the media are increasingly using the terminology 'narcissism' as socio-cultural parlance to describe selfish and self-centered behaviors and attitudes in social relationships. The purpose of this phenomenological research study is to describe the lived experience of women who are in intimate relationships with male partners whom they characterize as having narcissistic behaviors and attitudes. The research focus is motivated by client-centered therapeutic orientations that encourage counselors to 'be present with' clients, even when the experiences lack objective validation. Unstructured interviews were used to collect data from three adult females. The data was analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach. The participants' stories indicated that their relationships have identifiable phases and characteristics. The participants experienced diminished well-being, compromised self-differentiation, and pervasive loss. Pervasive loss served as a wake-up call and motivated the activation of participants’ residual sense of self to leave the relationships. In conclusion, while the terminology used to describe the intimate male partners may lack validation, the women perceive that their experiences negatively affected their lives. The women also recognized and regretted their lack of capability to negotiate dignified positioning in their intimate relationships.
Description
Keywords
Narcissism, Domestic abuse, Women, Socio-cultural, Mainstream, Violence, counseling, therapy, relational phases, relational stages
Citation