OHRID SEMINAR: Narcissist's Selfobject Enemies: Intimate Partners, Friends, Colleagues (May 2026)

The concept of "self-object" serves as a foundational element in understanding narcissistic pathology, where the mind annexes external reality to bolster the self. While healthy individuals integrate multiple external objects to enrich a cohesive identity, the narcissist—lacking a true self—possesses only a "false self" that functions as an internal void. To maintain the fantasy of their own omnipotence, narcissists must convert others into homogenized, faceless self-objects. This process requires the total subjugation and erasure of the partner's individuality, effectively turning the relationship into a rigid, religious-like structure. Because these self-objects are inherently counterfactual and designed to reject reality, they act as contaminants that threaten the false self, necessitating constant control and coercion. Consequently, the narcissistic dynamic remains immutable, as the false self grinds down all unique characteristics to preserve its fragile, godlike narrative.