Does the Jehovah's Witnesses religoius cult create people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder ?

by Finkelstein 22 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Finkelstein

  The American Psychiatry Association lists nine symptoms – if someone ticks five of these, they could have Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

  The nine points of narcissism

  1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance.
  2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
  3. Believes that he or she is ‘special’ and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people.
  4. Requires excessive admiration.
  5. Has a sense of entitlement.
  6. Is inter-personally exploitative (takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends).
  7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
  8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
  9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.

  From my own personal experience I would say yes.
  

  
  
  
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  Simon

  Maybe it creates them, maybe it attracts them. I've seem a certain "entitled arrogance" with other non-JW religious types.

  Maybe it's the belief that you talk directly to the creator of the universe and his son - how could anyone be humble if that were real?
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  Finkelstein

  When I was JWS I thought I was very special among the rest of society, among the chosen ones as it were and I was just a regular JW, I wonder how the anointed felt about themselves ?
  

  I just reflect what I remember about certain JWS who had strong traits of this personality disorder more so.
  
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  sparrowdown

  We've had this kind of question posted here before and my answer is still the same I believe cults create narcissists. Especially born-ins they have no memory of what it's like to be "normal."

  The good news is I believe being in a cult it is a type of learned narcissim which means it can be unlearned but it would mean identifying the narcissistic traits and dealing with them.
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  StarTrekAngel

  While much research is ongoing, most personality issues are attributed to exposure. If you are surrounded by narcissists, then it is easy for you to become one.
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  sparrowdown

  Good point STA.

  Conversely, sometimes being surrounded or raised by narcissists can make you determined not to become one.
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  Steel

  When my wife was pregnant she was called to a special meeting with two elders. Just a friendly little reminder it was her duty to die for god if something went wrong.

  I knew this meeting was going on so I walked in uninvited. I was visibility pissed off and the one elder decided to stop it.

  He looked at me and started asking about how i felt about his authority? It was insane how deluded he was. He thought i was the bad guy because i didnt think my wifes womb or unborn child were any of his business. It still shocks me.
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  scratchme1010

  Absolutely. In my opinion, and based on what I have learned reading and meeting professionals in the matter of cults, yes. There are two types of people in cults, especially the ones born in: They grow to become blind followers or a narcissistic personality disorder case, pompous, self-righteous, emotionally abusive a-hole (or bitch).
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  steve2

  No religious group "creates" personality types; instead it caters for and attracts different personality types. JW organization attracts both position-seekers and those who are the opposite, dependent, passive types.
  

  Regarding narcissism, JW organization attracts men who are mentally compatible with high control group leadership positions. A narcissistic man can thrive in JW-land (but when he falls, he falls big time), whereas a narcissistic woman would be invested in some kind of secondary oversight - perhaps as a Special Pioneer who conducts Bible Studies.

  Social psychology research strongly suggests that personality "types" are a product of "nature" but become engrained through "nurture".
  
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  cofty

  What Steve said ^^^

  Our personalities are very much rooted in genetics.

  JWs cover the entire spectrum of personality types.