A Homeostatic Perspective on Narcissistic Personality Dynamics

Sedikides (this issue) draws attention to the roles that processes such as self-construction, self-protection, and selfenhancement may play in the homeostatic regulation of identity. The ideas offered by Sedikides are certainly intriguing because our understanding of identity remains far from complete. For example, there would appear to be substantial advantages for us having accurate perceptions of ourselves (e.g., this would allow us to make better decisions regarding the pursuit of certain goals) but there is abundant evidence that we often view ourselves in an overly positive manner (e.g., Brown & others, 1986; Sedikides, Gaertner, & Toguchi, 2003). Many scholars have attempted to provide explanations for our tendencies to adopt inaccurate self-views but Sedikides argues that one of the reasons for these patterns may be the homeostatic processes that protect our sense of identity. The purpose of this commentary is to offer my reflections on some of the arguments offered by Sedikides by primarily focusing on their implications for our understanding of narcissism.