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Surprising Science —

Narcissism No Longer a Disease

Narcissists, much to the surprise of many experts, are in the process of becoming an endangered species. The diagnosis will no longer be officially recognized by 2013.
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Not that narcissists face imminent extinction—it’s a fate much worse than that. They will still be around, but they will be ignored. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (due out in 2013, and known as DSM-5) has eliminated five of the 10 personality disorders that are listed in the current edition. Narcissistic personality disorder is the most well-known of the five, and its absence has caused the most stir in professional circles. Most nonprofessionals have a pretty good sense of what narcissism means, but the formal definition is more precise than the dictionary meaning of the term.

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