Narcissism: Origins and History of the Term

Narcissistic behavior was named after Narcissus, a character from Greek mythology who was known for his vanity.

In the myth, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. He was so infatuated with himself that he could not look away, and he eventually died from starvation and thirst.

The term narcissistic was first used in a psychological context in the 19th century by the psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing. Krafft-Ebing used the term to describe a condition in which people are excessively self-absorbed and lack empathy for others.

Today, the term narcissistic is used to describe a wide range of behaviors, from mild vanity to full-blown narcissistic personality disorder.