Loss of Self in Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse
A Psychodynamic Study of Relational Trauma
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22425944 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fauzah Rahimah Mohd Ali (0000-0001-7800-1837, International Islamic University Malaysia, corresponding author), Siti Amalina Awang (International Islamic University Malaysia), Adibah Abdul Jabar (International Islamic University Malaysia) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-19 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-06 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Psychoanalytic Social Work (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1522-8878 • E-ISSN: 1522-9033 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/15228878.2026.2699629 |
| OpenAlex | W7167611282 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
Narcissistic abuse has been increasingly conceptualized in the clinical and psychodynamic literature as a form of relational trauma characterized by chronic emotional invalidation, coercive control, and the progressive erosion of personal agency. This case-based paper examines the lived experiences of two women at different life stages: Miss W, a university student in her early twenties, and Mrs. H, a professional woman in her late fifties, both of whom presented with depression, identity disturbance, and relational difficulties following prolonged exposure to narcissistic abuse. Using a psychodynamic framework, the paper identifies shared psychological patterns across both cases, including compromised autonomy, internalized critical parental objects, conditional self-worth, relational enmeshment, and false self-organization. The findings illustrate how narcissistic abuse may function as a form of cumulative relational trauma, shaping enduring patterns of compliance, self-silencing, shame, and affective dysregulation across the lifespan. In these cases, recovery from narcissistic abuse required more than symptom reduction; it necessitates the restoration of agency, meaning, and a cohesive sense of self. The paper highlights the value of psychodynamically informed and ethically attuned social work practice in addressing the interplay between intrapsychic injury, relational power, and socio-cultural context.
Attachment theory · Countertransference · Narcissism · Psychodynamic psychotherapy · Psychodynamics · Self · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Personality Disorders and Psychopathology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
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The intricate role of dissociation in the relations between childhood maltreatment, self-objectification, and narcissism
(Gas)lighting Their Way to Coercion and Violation in Narcissistic Abuse
Mental Health Consequences of Intimate Partner Abuse
Parent Autonomy Support and Psychological Control, Dark Triad, and Subjective Well-Being of Chinese Adolescents
Thin-skinned or vulnerable narcissism and thick-skinned or grandiose narcissism
| Highly cited | No |
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