Document Type : Original Article
Researcher
Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
Ministerial Ethics Committee
This study examines the relationship between selfobject needs and narcissism, with a focus on the mediating role of defense mechanisms. Psychoanalytic theory, particularly Kohut's perspective, views narcissism as a result of unmet developmental needs during childhood, such as mirroring and idealization. When these needs are inadequately fulfilled by parents, they lead to the formation of a fragmented self and unhealthy narcissism. According to Kohut, narcissistic individuals use defense mechanisms to maintain a grandiose self-image and avoid experiencing unconscious negative emotions such as shame and inferiority. The aim of this study is to investigate the direct and indirect roles of selfobject needs in the development of narcissism and to analyze the mediating impact of defense mechanisms. The results of this research can provide a deeper understanding of narcissism and its associated psychological processes, aiding in the development of intervention strategies for treating narcissistic individuals and improving effective parenting practices. This study presents a conceptual model to explore these hypotheses and seeks to answer whether defense mechanisms mediate the relationship between selfobject needs and narcissism. The findings may be particularly relevant to the fields of psychotherapy and clinical counseling.