| Abstract [eng] |
Narcissism – both as a personality structure and as a defensive dynamic – is increasingly recognized in contemporary psychology and culture as a condition concealing deep vulnerability. While the term is often used superficially or pejoratively in public discourse, in psychoanalytic literature narcissism is understood as a complex developmental trajectory stemming from early disruptions in the formation of the self, unregulated affects, and insecure attachment experiences (Kernberg, 1975; Masterson, 1981). Narcissistic defenses – such as grandiose fantasies, devaluation of others, and emotional withdrawal – often mask experiences of shame, worthlessness, and emptiness (Hollis, 2006; Ronningstam, 2009). The relevance of this topic is growing, as more people are exhibiting symptoms of emotional disconnection, self-esteem imbalances, and fear of intimacy – indicators of narcissistic defenses that often remain shadowed and stigmatized. Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is one of the expressive arts therapies that uses body movement as the primary medium of expression, allowing for direct access to unconscious processes. In DMT, spontaneous, unfiltered movements become the non-verbal voice of the unconscious, opening the way both to bringing traumatic experiences into consciousness and to transforming them through embodied symbolic action. Movement not only expresses inner states but also shapes them – therefore, the conscious exploration of movement helps transform entrenched internal defenses and awaken new ways of experiencing the self. Thus, DMT becomes not only a non-verbal mode of reflection but also a way of modulating unconscious impulses, strengthening psychological integration. Autoethnography is a qualitative research method in which self-reflection and writing that reveals the researcher’s personal experiences serve as primary tools. This method allows not only for the revelation of the researcher’s inner perspective but also for the examination of cultural beliefs through internal reflection. By exploring unexpected personal experiences in everyday life, autoethnography offers a way to challenge existing cultural norms, research forms, and content (Ellis et al., 2010). By integrating art and science, autoethnography brings the first-person voice into research, creating an empathetic and engaging text. Research Aim is to reveal the emotional experience of the “unmirrored child” and the personal narrative of its later consequences, thus reflecting on one's own narcissistic dynamics and the becoming of a dance movement therapist, as well as inner transformations and the relationship with the sociocultural environment, with the goal of reducing the stigma surrounding narcissism. Theoretical Results. The theoretical part of the thesis elaborates on the concepts of narcissism, dance movement therapy, and autoethnography, presenting their developmental histories. The exploration of the diversity and origins of narcissistic dynamics allows for a new perspective on the phenomenon of narcissism. The paper also discusses the potential of DMT as an approach for working with individuals suffering from narcissistic wounding. Main Empirical Findings. The research resulted in an authentic, aesthetically engaging, and emotionally evocative text that presents narcissistic symptomatology from a new perspective, fosters empathy, encourages deeper reflection on one’s own rigidity and avoidance of connection, and is accessible to those interested in narcissism, autoethnographic writing, and dance movement therapy. |
