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After Corona — Will the Age of Ego End?
The Reign of the Hollow Men: The Parallel Between the Corona Virus and the Narcissism Epidemic
Recent articles suggest that mandatory quarantines will have a positive effect on people suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder. It is posited that they will be forced to relinquish some degree of control and manipulation, be sequestered away from their adoring harem, and receive a copious amount of time to reconsider the vapid emptiness within their soul. I’m not convinced this outcome is even a possibility as we witness similar pathology that land unabated in contemporary societies throughout the world. We live in a culture of entitlement, selfishness, egoism, and suffer from a lack of empathy which manifests in our inability to stay home for the sake of others during this current health crisis. But the collective consciousness of selfish people does not mean they are all people suffering from a personality disorder like narcissism. Malignant narcissism and psychopathy manifest as a current epidemic running concurrently alongside the Covid-19 pandemic and pose a similar threat to society. Can the narcissist use their time during this crisis to truly have a ‘come to Jesus moment or suddenly grow a conscience and some empathy for the suffering of others?
