Narcissism vs. Ego — What's the Difference?

Narcissism is the pursuit of gratification from vanity or egotistic admiration of one's idealised self-image and attributes. The term originated from Greek mythology, where a young man named Narcissus fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water.

A person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance

Excessive preoccupation with or admiration of oneself.

The self, especially as distinct from the world and other selves.

A personality disorder characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. Also called narcissistic personality disorder.

In psychoanalytic theory, the division of the psyche that is conscious, is responsible for our feelings of selfhood, and most directly interacts with external reality.

Pleasure derived from contemplation or admiration of one's own body or self, considered in psychoanalytic theory to be a fixation on or a regression to an infantile stage of development.

An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit.

Excessive love of oneself.

Appropriate pride in oneself; self-esteem.

Sexual desire for one's own body.

The self, especially with a sense of self-importance.

An exceptional interest in and admiration for oneself.

The most central part of the mind, which mediates with one's surroundings.

An exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself

The conscious and permanent subject of all psychical experiences, whether held to be directly known or the product of reflective thought; the subject consciously considered as "I" by a person; - opposed to non-ego.

That one of the three parts of a person's psychic apparatus that mediates consciously between the drives of the id and the realities of the external physical and social environment, by integrating perceptions of the external world and organizing the reactions to it. Contrasted with the id and superego.

Egotism; as, a job requiring a diplomat without too much ego.

Self-esteem; as, he has an overinflated ego.

An inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others

Your consciousness of your own identity

(psychoanalysis) the conscious mind