The Smirking Chimp: "At an observable level, narcissism involves a self-centeredness that makes one oblivious to the emotional existence of others. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (IVth edition: DSM-IV) defines its pathological extreme (narcissistic personality disorder) as: 'A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy.'

In the odd DSM manner, this condition is diagnosed by having a threshold number of the following symptoms (5 out of 9), regardless of which five symptoms they are. (To be diagnostic of a clinical condition each symptom should be possessed to the extent that it interferes with functioning or causes distress):
'Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

'Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

'Believes that he or she is ''special'' and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

'Requires excessive admiration

'Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

'Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

'Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

'Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

'Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes' "

Rather, it can be used as an indicator of his personality, of long-standing tendencies to think, feel, and behave in characteristic ways, regardless of whether such a personality is a clinical problem

consideration of psychological factors contributing to the blunder hardly seems out of place

narcissism is intimately connected with fear of one's weakness and vulnerability, and with aggression toward the other whose individuality is obliterated by the narcissism. As the weakness and vulnerability needs to be kept out of awareness, narcissism contributes to another process that poses dangers for narcissistic leaders like President Bush in that their narcissism contributes to an ignoring of reality, of possibility of error or other indicators of potential weakness