Understanding Pathological Narcissism

Ellen Finch, a PhD student in psychology at Harvard Griffin GSAS, is on a mission to destigmatize and help people understand pathological narcissism, a personality style characterized by an elevated, but unstable, sense of self. Finch explores how this controversial and often misunderstood condition is developed and maintained through certain behaviors, including grandiose fantasizing and self-bolstering memory recall and future thinking. Finch’s research provides valuable insights that contribute to clinicians' ability to understand and treat this complex condition.