Die Köpfe der Genies mit Maxim Mankevich

Wir Frauen spielen mit euch! | Dr. Bärbel Wardetzki

·47 min·4 clips

Dr. Bärbel Wardetzki explains why women constantly ask 'my husband is a narcissist, what can I do?'

Maxim Mankevich hosts Dr. Bärbel Wardetzki, a psychologist with over 40 years of practice, on his podcast Die Köpfe der Genies. The episode focuses on narcissism in interpersonal relationships. Dr. Wardetzki begins by addressing the common complaint from women that their husbands are narcissists. She notes that historically, narcissism was defined only as male, never related to women. She observes that today, women are increasingly interested in the concept of female narcissism. Dr. Wardetzki cautions against overusing the 'narcissist' label, suggesting it's as unhelpful as calling someone 'spinach'. She explains that narcissistic behavior is a protective function stemming from deep childhood experiences of emotional abandonment, where individuals learn to rely only on themselves. The discussion delves into diagnostic challenges, noting that narcissism often co-occurs with other issues like depression and lacks clear boundaries with psychopathy. Dr. Wardetzki distinguishes between male and female narcissism: male narcissism is often rooted in grandiosity and power-seeking, while female narcissism stems from feelings of inferiority and manifests through perfectionism in appearance, performance, and caregiving. She describes how narcissistic couples can function symbiotically, with women borrowing grandiosity from men and men offloading inferiority onto women. The conversation explores how these dynamics break down over time. Dr. Wardetzki emphasizes that overcoming narcissism requires therapeutic intervention, as it involves showing one's true self in a safe relationship. She discusses the role of social media in exacerbating narcissistic pressures through comparison with idealized images. The episode concludes with her view that personal growth processes cannot be shortcut, and therapy provides a crucial space for healing.

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