Chapter 7, The Soul of a Narcissist, The State of the Art - Concept of Narcissistic Accumulation

Written by Dr. Sam Vaknin

Put differently, the very existence of the PN Space and its characteristics are not altered or affected by the fluctuations in Narcissistic Supply (NS) which are a function of the availability of PNSSs and of SNSSs. A narcissist can, for instance, cease to be famous and still feel a narcissistic pathology throughout the PN Space (but not outside its borders).

The PN Space constantly consumes and drains NS. It has a function of negative accumulation of NS (a "sink").

PNSSs and SNSSs balance this negative accumulation by constantly providing the narcissist with NS and positive accumulation, respectively.

To recap: the PN Space is a geographical area, a group of people, or an abstract field of knowledge in which the narcissistic pathology reaches its full expression and effectiveness. The PN Space is, really, a territorially expanded FEGO. The expansion is achieved through PNSSs.

As far as narcissists in positions of authority go, a level of fame or notoriety is achieved through the media in a given territory, or by projecting power or wisdom or wealth onto a territorially bound group of people.

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The Pathological Narcissistic Space has a few characteristics:

1. It is ubiquitous (all-pervasive) - it applies throughout the entirety of a homogeneous territory (a political, social, functional, cultural, or lingual unit with clear boundaries).

2. It has a critical mass - It is independent of the quality and identity of the Supply Sources. Example: the narcissist does not have to be famous among a specific, elite group of people. Any publicity and recognition will do, providing that a certain quantitative critical mass is reached.

3. It is size indifferent - The PN Space does not have to have a minimum size.

4. It is a derivative of PNSS - It cannot be derived from SNSSs. The latter only serve to regulate the flow of NS. Their role is to prevent a net loss (negative accumulation) of NS in the PN Space.

5. It is constant - Once created, the PN Space is independent of its sources (the PNSSs) and its stabilisers (SNSSs) and continues to exist regardless. It continues to exist even in the absence of NSSs of any sort.

6. It generates negative Narcissistic Accumulation - The very existence of the PN Space generates a negative accumulation of NS. The spatialisation of the FEGO drastically increases the quantity of NS needed and provided by PNSSs and SNSSs. The larger the PN Space - the more NSSs are needed.

A narcissist whose PN Space is "the family", for instance, consumes much less Narcissistic Supply than a narcissist whose PN Space is "the country" or "literary works in the English language".

These properties of the PN Space are also the attributes of the FEGO. It too is a product of some critical mass of observers, it is equally fed by PNSSs, stabilised by SNSSs, is constant and independent of the availability of NS. It too requires constant NS - which proves that it too generates a negative accumulation of NS. A PN Space is merely a spatialised FEGO. Every FEGO develops a FEGO Field - its own, private PN Space in which it operates optimally (or, at least, strives to do so).

With time, the narcissist abandons the PN Space as he abandons other meaningful things in his life. The narcissist attaches a PN Space to every geographical or functional human unit in which he operates (his family, his workplace, his friends, his profession). He then neutralises his emotional investments in these PN Spaces by using Emotional Involvement Preventive Measures (EIPM). This leads to estrangement, alienation, hard feelings and, ultimately, abandonment.

One of the reasons the narcissist forms a PN Space is because it makes it easier for him to obtain SNSSs. It is safe for him to assume that every subsystem of the PN Space possesses an SNSS profile. Where a PN Space does not exist, an SNSS profile has to be created first.

In other words: it is easier for the narcissist to find a girlfriend or to establish a business in a PN Space in which he is already known. Otherwise he has to "establish an SNSS profile", that is to introduce and to promote himself. A PN Space is the equivalent of having a good reputation or being well-known, which make it easier for the narcissist to locate NSSs.

The negative accumulation, which characterises the PN Space, creates a Grandiosity Gap. This is a gap between reality and the by-products of the various narcissistic defence mechanisms (such as the grandiose fantasies and the idealisations). There is always a very discernible and sizeable abyss between what the narcissist imagines himself (and those dear to him) to be - and the much less exhilarating reality.

These gaps are overcome by the constant infusion of Narcissistic Supply. When there is a drain on this supply (as happens with the introduction of a new PN Space), the gaps can no longer be bridged and devaluation sets in. The narcissist berates himself and all the people that he is in touch with. By doing so he hopes to narrow the glaring gap between what he says about himself and what he really is.

Another result of this yawning gap is the uncontrollable urge to obtain NSSs (objects). This is how the primary drive to find PNSS develops. But, as we know, in the absence of SNSS, Grandiosity Gaps again develop in the PN Space (even in the presence of PNSS).