Category Archives: conscience

A Healthy Conscience Makes a Healthy Heart

Abuse, conscience, empathy, Integrity, Love, Mental Health, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Relationships, Social Issues, Spirituality, , , ,

A Healthy Heart A healthy heart is a ultimately a heart at peace. It’s a heart both warm and open. To have such a heart is to have just about everything. But sadly, in our times, too many hearts are aching, broken and bruised, and longing for so much more. Unhealthy hearts are just one … Continue reading A Healthy Conscience Makes a Healthy Heart →

It Takes a Village – But What Kind?

conscience, Entitlement, Integrity, Mental Health, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Relationships, Responsibility, Social Issues, Therapy, , , , , , , ,

For a child – or even an adult – to grow positively in character, it indeed takes a village. But the kind of village matters. A community or culture that promotes attitudes of entitlement, excessive self-focus, instant gratification, poor self-regulation, etc. will only help produce individuals impaired in their capacity to relate to others in wholesome, productive ways. That’s what character disturbance is all about. 

Barriers to Forming a Healthy Conscience

Aggression, conscience, Covert-Aggression, Entitlement, Integrity, Mental Health, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Psychopathy and Sociopathy, Relationships, Social Issues, Spirituality, , , , , , ,

As I’ve asserted in countless workshops: “Internalization of a prohibition is essentially an act of submission.” Narcissists see no need for that. And aggressive personalities fight tooth and nail against it. 

Beyond Egocentrism to Wholesome Character

Abuse, conscience, Covert-Aggression, Empowerment, Entitlement, Integrity, Manipulation, Manipulators, Mental Health, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychological Manipulation, Relationships, Responsibility, Self-Esteem, Social Issues, Spirituality, , , , , , , , ,

Mature character demands we outgrow our natural egocentrism. But an entitled, egocentric, narcissistic culture holds many of us back.

Narcissistic Personalities Come in Various Types

Abuse, Aggression, conscience, empathy, Entitlement, Integrity, Intimacy, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Psychopathy and Sociopathy, Relationships, Responsibility, Self-Esteem, Social Issues, , , ,

With narcissistic personalities, one description does not really fit all. Vulnerable, “compensatory” types are very different from their heartless, “grandiose” counterparts.

Codependency Versus Emotional Dependency

Abuse, Addiction and Recovery, conscience, empathy, Empowerment, Infidelity, Integrity, Manipulators, Mental Health, Narcissism, Neurotics, Personality and Character, Psychological Manipulation, Psychology, Relationships, Responsibility, Social Issues, Therapy, , , , , , , , , ,

True codependency is widely misunderstood, and often mistaken for emotional dependency, a significant risk factor for abuse and exploitation in relationships.

Obstinate Denial and Mental Filtering

conscience, empathy, Entitlement, Integrity, Manipulation, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychological Manipulation, Psychology, Relationships, Responsibility, Social Issues, Spirituality, , , , , , ,

Some so-called denial is rooted in obstinacy, a stubborn refusal to accept a reality that challenges a person to change and grow.

Making Amends Reveals Character

conscience, empathy, Integrity, Mental Health, Narcissism, Personality and Character, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychology, Relationships, Responsibility, Social Issues, Spirituality, Therapy, , , , , ,

Making amends for harm done is a duty, to be sure. But the spirit with which one does this noble work of repair testifies to one’s character.