Behaviour of the Brown Family - Narcissistic in Nature?

I have thought for a long time that certain Brown family parents display tendencies that could be considered narcissistic in nature.  Apparently, many posters agree with me if you read the comments we receive here at SWB.  This “theme” of narcissism really stuck out to me when I read what happened in court on Friday, December 16 and learned that the investigation into the Browns wasn’t only about polygamy.  If the Browns knew this they certainly hid it well.

I am not a medical or mental health professional and I don’t play one on TV.  However, I know quite a bit about narcissistic behaviour and Narcissistic Personality Disorder because of family experiences.  But that is another story for another time and another blog.  Let’s just say I know enough to discuss this subject.  

Narcissists generally have a sense of self-importance and an unusually strong (and often unfounded) idea that they are super-special – and you better think so, too.  So that is what I saw when I read about this lawsuit and the investigation:  the Browns thinking that, of course Utah would pursue them solely for the crime of polygamy when that state says it does not do that, and in recent times it only prosecutes for polygamy when other, specific, crimes are also involved.  I thought, how special do they think they are that Utah would not only prosecute them but also persecute them?

Then I realized, they DO think they are special.  They specifically sought out a TV show to display their super-specialness to the world and to receive the respect and esteem they felt they deserved.  By the way, an excessive need for admiration is a a type of behaviour that can be considered narcissistic.  In their thought process did the Browns  believe they were so special that people would overlook their “financial indiscretions” and less than stellar interpersonal relationships?  Did they believe that they have the right to do those things because of their “specialness”?  The lack of a mature conscience that understands whether what one is doing is right / wrong is typical of narcissist-type behaviour.

Their interpersonal relationships bring me to another characteristic that is typical of narcissists:  interpersonal exploitation.  Strongly narcissistic people treat others as tools, utensils for their own personal gain like a chair or a pencil (or a baby-maker); they are useful while they are useful and are put down without another thought when that use has ended.  Narcissists don’t think about the feelings, needs and dreams of these “utensils”; they don’t even realize that anyone other than them might have those things because they lack empathy (yet another narcissistic trait). 

This goes along with narcissistic cruelty toward others.  In my observation this cruelty is casual, because narcissists don’t see their behaviour as cruel.  How can you be cruel to someone who has no feelings?  That is how narcissists see their interactions with others (e.g. hormonal monster-gate; Logan-prospective-sitter leaving-gate).  Narcissists often pretend to understand emotions or emotional cues to “fit in”, but when listening to them speak it becomes apparent that there is a disconnect; discussions with them are strange and uncomfortable. 

Yet, narcissists are VERY sensitive to any perceived criticism.  They tend to overreact because they believe that, being the super-special beings they are, they must be perfect and superior or else they are worthless failures.  They often attack others to prevent people criticizing them.  The best defence is a good offence, right?  This psychological quirk also tends to make them paranoid (e.g. of sharks) and to avoid initiative because if you don’t start / finish something you can’t fail at it.  But boy, oh boy, do they talk a good game (because they are super-special).

They don’t let others get close for fear of revealing their true selves.  They are masters of the superficial.  This also makes them naive and vulnerable.  Because humor and time are both contextual, narcissists tend not to have a good sense of either (or typically have a strange sense of humour). 

Paradoxically, narcissists who are always working to project this false image of specialness and perfection need other people to view that image and tell them that they are special.  So they need others around them; they can’t stand to live alone.  They, of course, like to pick people to live with who will feed into that image of super-specialness.  One name for the folks narcissists tend to pick as partners is “co-dependents”, or emotionally needy people (rhymes with “Jeri” and “Manelle” perhaps?).

What other evidence do I have to think that some of the Brown parents display behaviours that could be considered narcissistic in nature?  I watched interviews with them.  Narcissists lie and contradict themselves very frequently, even when it would be easier to tell the truth and they ALWAYS deny that they have lied and contradicted themselves.

By now you know which Brown parent(s) I think display behavior that could be considered narcissistic in nature, if you are/were a faithful “Sister Wives” viewer.  But this is just my opinion.  What is yours?

Written by: Terrasola