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The concept of narcissistic injury does not appear as such in Freud. Since [[Freud]], the theoretical elaboration of [[narcissism ]] and the development of new entities of [[psychopathology (narcissistic personalities, borderline states) ]] has led to the creation of this concept to describe the consequences, on the [[narcissistic ]] level, of a [[trauma ]] to the [[psychic ]] [[apparatus ]] arising from [[internal ]] or [[external ]] factors.

It should be remarked, however, that the introduction of the concept of [[narcissism ]] (Freud, 1914c1914) prepared the way in metapsychology meta[[psychology]] for the notion of [[narcissistic injury]], if one also takes into account the Freudian [[Freud]]ian propositions concerning the [[development ]] of the [[ego ]] in relation to the exigencies of the [[reality principle (Freud, 1911b)]], and his ideas about [[infantile ]] [[helplessness ]] (''[[Hilflosigkeit]]''). On the one hand, conflicting drives, and, on the other, the object and its vicissitudes inflict a series of traumas on narcissism, whereby the anguish linked to loss and/or separation becomes structural<ref>Freud. Thereby, birth, weaning, anality, the castration complex, and the fear of death are all prototypical phenomena that give rise to narcissistic injuries1911b.</ref>

Further reflection on narcissism, and On the post-Freudian clinicone hand, have led to theories in which the notion of narcissistic injury occupies a central placeconflicting [[drive]]s, as well as to developments and modifications in psychoanalytic technique. In the United Sates, on the "Self Psychology" of Heinz Kohut and the description of borderline states and narcissistic personalities by Otto Kernberg have made this category centralother, allowing the evaluation of psychic organization [[object]] and serving as transference-countertransference guide in the course of the analysis. Heinz Kohut particularly has stressed the significance of "narcissistic rage" as its vicissitudes inflict a reaction to narcissistic injury: faced with the failure series of the self-object[[trauma]]s on [[narcissism]], narcissistic rage would be whereby the aggressive result of shameanguish linked to [[loss]] and/or [[separation]] becomes [[structural]].

In FranceThereby, Béla Grunberger considered that narcissistic injury, inflicted on the ego by the vicissitudes of a disappointed ego-ideal[[birth]], is an integral part of narcissism; accordingly[[weaning]], this theory made narcissistic injury a pivotal notion[[anal]]ity, since the impotence inherent in the human condition constitutes[[castration complex]], in itself and from the outset, a [[fear]] of [[death]] are all prototypical phenomena that give rise to [[narcissistic injury, one that is preponderant subsequently in the dialectic between narcissism and the drives, as well as being the source of ethics and civilization. Andre Green, stressing the role of the object, speaks of object trauma, whose very existence is the cause of injury, calling for never-completed reparationinjuries]].

Further reflection on [[narcissism]], and the post-[[Freudian]] [[clinic]], have led to theories in which the notion of [[narcissistic injury]] occupies a central place, as well as to developments and modifications in [[psychoanalytic]] [[technique]].  In the [[United Sates]], the "Self Psychology" of Heinz Kohut and the description of borderline states and narcissistic personalities by Otto Kernberg have made this category central, allowing the evaluation of psychic organization and serving as [[transference]]-[[countertransference]] guide in the course of the [[analysis]].  Heinz Kohut particularly has stressed the significance of "narcissistic rage" as a reaction to [[narcissistic injury]]: faced with the failure of the [[self]]-[[object]], narcissistic rage would be the aggressive result of [[shame]]. In France, Béla Grunberger considered that [[narcissistic injury]], inflicted on the [[ego]] by the vicissitudes of a disappointed [[ego-ideal]], is an integral part of [[narcissism]]; accordingly, this theory made [[narcissistic injury]] a pivotal notion, since the [[impotence]] inherent in the [[human condition]] constitutes, in itself and from the outset, a [[narcissistic injury]], one that is preponderant subsequently in the [[dialectic]] between [[narcissism]] and the [[drive]]s, as well as being the source of [[ethics]] and [[civilization]].  Andre Green, stressing the role of the [[object]], speaks of [[object]] [[trauma]], whose very [[existence]] is the cause of [[injury]], calling for never-completed reparation. The notion of [[narcissistic injury ]] is useful in accounting for the rapports between [[narcissism]], the drives[[drive]]s, and the [[object]].  However, as critics of Kohut point out, its excessively univocal [[development ]] risks de-emphasizing [[sexuality]].