The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan Simon Rogoff On Narcissism And Power
Dec 19, 2025
In this engaging discussion, clinical psychologist Simon Rogoff delves into the nuances of narcissism, drawing from over 20 years of experience. He explores the spectrum of narcissistic traits, from healthy self-regard to severe dysfunction, highlighting childhood patterns that breed narcissism, such as emotional neglect and the embrace of achievement over vulnerability. Rogoff also examines famous figures like Churchill and Lennon, revealing how their wounds shaped their complex personalities, while noting how narcissism can both drive ambition and create deep interpersonal issues.
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Early Prison Visit Memory
- Simon Rogoff recalls a childhood memory in a prison visiting hall where he shouted "daddy" at a probation officer on stage.
- That early exposure to people who were both vulnerable and powerful shaped his curiosity about narcissism and performance.
Personality Versus Episodic Illness
- Personality disorders reflect enduring relational patterns formed in early caregiving rather than discrete episodic illnesses.
- Narcissistic personality disorder sits at the severe end of a trait spectrum and requires assessment of pervasive, long-term impacts.
Narcissism As Developmental Trauma
- Rogoff links narcissism to developmental relational trauma rather than only genetics or adult events.
- Emotional neglect, chronic shame, and the resulting turn to performance or achievement explain how vulnerability gets buried.