Narcissistic Disorder?

[duus]

Definition of 'narcissism' -

nar·cis·sism (n�rs-szm) Pronunciation Key Audio pronunciation of "narcissistic" [P] also nar·cism (-szm)

n.

1. Excessive love or admiration of oneself. See Synonyms at conceit.

2. A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem.

3. Erotic pleasure derived from contemplation or admiration of one's own body or self, especially as a fixation on or a regression to an infantile stage of development.

4. The attribute of the human psyche charactized by admiration of oneself but within normal limits.

Could Benji have this? Or some other identifiable condition? Sure, some things are unpreventable (call it bad luck, or whatever) like the bike accident and the appendicitis, but let's look at the collection of tidbits that have been out there over the last year or so:

* Broken toe/foot (outwardly questioned by Cowher after the fact)

* Tired arm from length of season

* Knee surgery

* Bad thumb (which led to over-analysis of new glove and him making sure everyone knew he was going to wear it regardless of weather, etc)

* Crushed face (surely nothing intentional on his part, but part of the list of things that lead to more empathy needs ... "I was 15 seconds from dying")

* Vertigo (which Cowher later questioned)

* Appendicitus (again, nothing intentional, but more empathy needed)

* Fever (overstated by Ben himself)

Heck, I probably even missed a couple! So ... what is your prediction for this Sunday? Will it be more flu-like symptoms? Or maybe he bumped his funnybone. Has he EVER missed an opportunity to have some illness/symptoms/etc and not make sure EVERYONE knows about it? I remember Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game two years ago had a high fever, etc. No one knew anything about this until the coaches mentioned it well after the game. I also recall a certain QB coming back from a bigtime knee injury, only to play 8 short months after the injury in the opener. Hmmmm ... have you ever heard him jumped up and down at the opportunity to make sure he received extra sympathy for it? Just compare these stories ... compare the guys.

Is narcissism the right disorder? Not sure, but something is going on there. I wonder what new ones we have this season. It's early ... several more months of empathy opportunity.

[derekshank]

Yeah, I've noticed that too. It's one of the things that has annoyed me about him. It is the distinct opposite of Palmer. When Palmer plays badly, he goes out of his way not to make excuses, and even takes the mistakes of other players on himself.

Ben never misses an opportunity to have an excuse for his poor play. He loves telling the on-field reporters "Man, I can't catch a break."

Granted... he had a rough off-season. But even last year, he loved to say things like "Anytime you go low on a QB, you know it's a little dirty." Cry me a river Benny. Did your "dirty hit" require 7 months of rehab?

[rishipatel]

Uhh...I like the idea and the points you make to make your argument, but narcissistic disorder is the wrong disorder. Your interpretation of the definition is incorrect. They don't seek empathy from others, but are unable to be empathetic towards others(i.e. the world revolves around them and their needs).

Now, what you are describing is more close to that of Histrionic Personality Disorder, one of the dramatic and emotional cluster of personality disorders. These people display excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior, and are very dramatic. They also tend to be sexually provocative or seductive, although this doesn't seem to fit with Benji.

So take it for what you will. But I think an argument could be made that Benji's headlines and injuries could allow the inference that Benji is slightly histrionic.

[duus]

Uhh...I like the idea and the points you make to make your argument, but narcissistic disorder is the wrong disorder. Your interpretation of the definition is incorrect. They don't seek empathy from others, but are unable to be empathetic towards others(i.e. the world revolves around them and their needs).

Now, what you are describing is more close to that of Histrionic Personality Disorder, one of the dramatic and emotional cluster of personality disorders. These people display excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior, and are very dramatic. They also tend to be sexually provocative or seductive, although this doesn't seem to fit with Benji.

So take it for what you will. But I think an argument could be made that Benji's headlines and injuries could allow the inference that Benji is slightly histrionic.

I stand corrected. I knew I wasn't completely sure of that, and what you say makes good sense. Point is ... something is going on there. Time will tell. Waiting for a new way for him to draw attention to himself again this week.

[Kazkal]

Actually after the jags game ben took blaime for it having no excuses...I give him props for that.

[agreen_112]

No I would describe it as being a hypochondriac, which is a person who «thinks he is ill» or merely «imagines that he has symptoms».

[Riagogogoindanati]

OR THIS:

Munchausen

n : German raconteur who told preposterous stories about his adventures as a soldier and hunter; his name is now associated with any telling of exaggerated stories or winning lies (1720-1797) [syn: Munchhausen, Karl Friedrich Hieronymus von Munchhausen, Munchausen, Baron Munchausen]

Munchausen syndrome 

Psychiatry. a factitious disorder in which otherwise healthy individuals seek to hospitalize themselves with feigned or self-induced pathology in order to receive surgical or other medical treatment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: 1950–55; named after Baron von Münchhausen, whose fictionalized accounts of his own experiences suggest symptoms of the disorder]

[membengal]

Actually after the jags game ben took blaime for it having no excuses...I give him props for that.

No way, he laid the groundwork for excuses with the whole 104 temp thing...despite the fact that it was NOT a 104 temp.

[duus]

Actually after the jags game ben took blaime for it having no excuses...I give him props for that.

No way, he laid the groundwork for excuses with the whole 104 temp thing...despite the fact that it was NOT a 104 temp.

This is surely true. Few people IMO see this. The guy continues to put things out there in a casual way 'just in case'. And his 'I take the blame' mantra is so cookie-cutter that it ends up lacking sincerity. You can typically look at a guy and know if he genuinely believes when he is at fault or humbled ... haven't seen that yet from him. Words are just words.

[Riagogogoindanati]

Eventually Bennie is going to run out of excuses......just like it's hard to come up with another ecuse to call in to work. (FYI-I haven't called off for8 months)

[agreen_112]

Eventually Bennie is going to run out of excuses......just like it's hard to come up with another ecuse to call in to work. (FYI-I haven't called off for8 months)

I know what your saying man, I wanted to call off this morning and just couldn't come up with a good excuse. Maybe I'lll just use the 104 temp thingy tomorrow.

[Kazkal]

thats one thing always bugged me about benlast year...but it diden't this week "shrug" I diden't hear him play sick card like fans did when he was on nfl network or that he was coming back from the injury said things he could done better. "shrug" preatty much what carson has in the past

[fattyjay]

A little off topic but along the same lines of passing off the blame; Steelers.com columnist Bob Labriola seems to have had an overdose of the Ben-Aid in his article today. He blames Hines Ward for dropping a pass on third down, an official for ruling a catch out of bounds on another third down, and Bill Cowher's inability to get a call reversed. How many excuses do they need? They lost to a better team. Period.

[ArmyBengal]

How come when Carson takes the blame, he's a great leader and when Ben does it, he lacks sincerity ?? Seriously folks, I HATE the Steelers and would love nothing more than to see Ben eating Black and Orange all day, but what gives ?? If words are just words, then that also applies to Carson or any other player for that matter...

WHODEY !!!

[duus]

How come when Carson takes the blame, he's a great leader and when Ben does it, he lacks sincerity ?? Seriously folks, I HATE the Steelers and would love nothing more than to see Ben eating Black and Orange all day, but what gives ?? If words are just words, then that also applies to Carson or any other player for that matter...

WHODEY !!!

They both lack it. Just kidding.

I don't know. It's not about words. It's about watching the guy. I'm not offering science here. But a man tends to be able to tell another man's sincerity, even if it is just video clips. I honestly cannot speak as boldly either way about CP. I have seen enough about Benji day in and day out to know the difference on his side.

[Stripes]

How come when Carson takes the blame, he's a great leader and when Ben does it, he lacks sincerity ?? Seriously folks, I HATE the Steelers and would love nothing more than to see Ben eating Black and Orange all day, but what gives ?? If words are just words, then that also applies to Carson or any other player for that matter...

WHODEY !!!

I agree, Army. This thread seems pretty biased. Ben took all the blame after the Jags game for everything that went wrong. He said he let his receivers down, his defense down, and his coaches down. I really don't think he's going to prepare excuses before gametime... that's more than childish. He's very confident in himself, and would have no reason for that. Sure, he can be annoying sometimes with his off-the-field drama, but come gametime, he's not all that different from Carson.

All I know for sure is that both quarterbacks have a lot of respect for one another.

[duus]

How come when Carson takes the blame, he's a great leader and when Ben does it, he lacks sincerity ?? Seriously folks, I HATE the Steelers and would love nothing more than to see Ben eating Black and Orange all day, but what gives ?? If words are just words, then that also applies to Carson or any other player for that matter...

WHODEY !!!

I agree, Army. This thread seems pretty biased. Ben took all the blame after the Jags game for everything that went wrong. He said he let his receivers down, his defense down, and his coaches down. I really don't think he's going to prepare excuses before gametime... that's more than childish. He's very confident in himself, and would have no reason for that. Sure, he can be annoying sometimes with his off-the-field drama, but come gametime, he's not all that different from Carson.

Yeah, I agree too. Too much bias! What's up with that!!

Oops ... guilty.

[Kazkal]

Sense ben got in the wreck he does seem like a person,

Before the wreck he talked like he was a gangster now he talks normal o_O

[duus]

Nightly Sports Show in Pittsburgh

Bob Smizek - "Ben is not particularly loquacious until it comes to how he is feeling"

John Steigerwald - "When someone asks him how he is feeling he needs to just respond by saying, 'Good, and you?' I don't know what it is with him that he needs to go into detail about how he is feeling all the time."

Too funny. But true.

Oh ... and they went on to ponder that he is a hypochondriac. Perhaps that is a better way to describe it.

[derekshank]

Is there a bias? Sure... it's a Bengals forum. But there's not much debate here. Ben exagerrates and uses hyperbole in order to make himself seem heroic. He goes out of his way to let reporters know any and every detail about his body that isn't feeling 100%, and then analysts reward him by talking about how tough he is to fight through it.

Meanwhile, there are 31 other QB's in this league that go about thier business without attempting to draw attention to themselves in reference to their injuries. For some strange reason, Ben is different.

We all know people who exagerrate their own situations to draw attention to themselves. I had a guy at work tell me he had logged 80 hours of work one week to express to me how tired he was from over-work. I later found out that 30 of these hours were paid-time off hours that he simply chose to log during a normal work week. That is hardly the same thing. It's quite similar to telling a reporter that you have a temperature of 104, when it is actually 100.4.

These kinds of people just get on my nerves. Ben is one of them. Steeler or not, I don't like people like that.

[HairOnFire]

Is there a bias? Sure... it's a Bengals forum. But there's not much debate here. Ben exagerrates and uses hyperbole in order to make himself seem heroic. He goes out of his way to let reporters know any and every detail about his body that isn't feeling 100%, and then analysts reward him by talking about how tough he is to fight through it.

Ahhhh, but it's not just the biased Bengal fanbase that has taken notice of Biggest Ben's drama act. You're starting to see it creep into the national picture. ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd did several skits mocking Ben over the last two days. About half of the skits made fun of his fake/tired hero act, while the other half made fun of his apparent stupidity.