The Developmental Psychology of Psychopathology

"The Developmental Psychology of Psychopathology" by Samuel Vaknin is a scientific work from the early 21st century that examines the connection between a person's childhood and the development of narcissistic and psychopathic traits later in life, highlighting the impact of family relationships, especially those with parents, on these conditions; the early parts of the book set the stage for a discussion on narcissistic personalities, with a focus on how parents play a role, and explains how narcissists need other people to admire them while also seeing those people as just sources of attention; it also explores how early relationships with parents can shape whether someone develops healthy self-esteem or unhealthy narcissism; this introduces ideas about self-identity, emotional disconnection, and the critical part that childhood experiences play in mental health disorders.