- Messages
- 63,340
- Reaction score
- 66,329
Sources
https://www.webmd.com/search/search_results/default.aspx?query=egomaniac
https://www.webmd.com/search/search_results/default.aspx?query=narcissist
https://www.psychiatryonline.org/action/doSearch?AllField=egomaniac
https://www.psychiatryonline.org/action/doSearch?AllField=narcissist
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/...-fine-line-between-narcissism-and-egocentrism
A significant portion of the general public does observe someone's behavior like Jerry Jones and auto-reflexively label that individual as an egomaniac. It is a common notable definition mentioned in dictionaries, Wikipedia, etc.
If that segment of the public ventured to a more concise dedicated professional medical web resource like WebMD and searched for "egomaniac", they would receive zero results. Conversely, a search for "narcissist" would generate 19 results.
However, WebMD is an all-encompassing medical information resource. A more specific psychological resource can be found at Psychiatry Online, the publishing division of the American Psychiatric Association. On this psychiatry based website, a search for "egomaniac" will reveal one result, as opposed to searching for "narcissist" producing 3,415 matches.
In an April 2012 Psychology Today article entitled "It’s a Fine Line Between Narcissism and Egocentrism", Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne, a University of Massachusetts Amherst professor of psychological and brain sciences, wrote:
In egocentrism, you’re unable to see someone else’s point of view; but in narcissism, you may see that view but not care about it.
I think it is appropriate using the pronoun "most." In my opinion, most people, or most Cowboys fans in particular, see Jerry Jones' actions and statements as a byproduct of him being deaf-and-blind to what other people say. My decades of closely observing Jerry Jones makes me believe the opposite. I "know" he comprehends EVERYTHING said to him or about him but he does not necessarily care.
I found another passage in Dr. Whitbourne's article interesting, in which she said:
It’s very easy to slip from ordinary egocentrism to entitled narcissism. Without encountering any adverse consequences, people such as chronic latecomers see no reason to change their behavior. No one complains, no job is lost, and all they get are the rewards of drawing everyone’s attention.
The problem is exaggerated among people who gradually acquire public recognition. Actors, musicians, reality show contestants, and <censored> who start to grab the eye of the media are particularly prone to taking on narcissistic tendencies. If they don’t remain grounded in their previous reality, they can become victim to the narcissistic bubble in which they lose their sense of accountability for their behavior. The grand entrance becomes almost a required part of their job and if they’re not careful, it can lead them to take on an entitled attitude toward their friends and family.
I agree with Dr. Whitbourne's conclusion entitled narcissists "lose their sense of accountability for their behavior". Dr. Whitbourne does not equate that same personality deficit to egocentrics, which is essentially the same label as egomaniac, but it is understandable why most people might not discern any difference between their conclusion and hers if it were applied to Jerry Jones.The problem is exaggerated among people who gradually acquire public recognition. Actors, musicians, reality show contestants, and <censored> who start to grab the eye of the media are particularly prone to taking on narcissistic tendencies. If they don’t remain grounded in their previous reality, they can become victim to the narcissistic bubble in which they lose their sense of accountability for their behavior. The grand entrance becomes almost a required part of their job and if they’re not careful, it can lead them to take on an entitled attitude toward their friends and family.
