Megalomania
Megalomania is a psychopathology that is characterized by fantasies of power, relevance, omnipotence, and by inflated self-esteem. Historically it was used as a name for narcissistic personality disorder prior to the latter's first use by Heinz Kohut in 1968, and is used these days as a non-clinical equivalent. It is not mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD).
History[edit | edit source]
The word megalomania is derived from the Ancient Greek words megalos (μεγάλος), meaning large, and mania (μανία), meaning madness. It was first used in 1890, to describe a condition where patients overestimated their powers and resources, something that was typical in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. The term was later used by Sigmund Freud as a symptom of certain kinds of psychoanalytic behavior.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Megalomania is characterized by an inflated sense of self-esteem and overestimation by persons of their powers and beliefs. Individuals with megalomania have a strong conviction of their own importance that is not commensurate with their actual achievements. They feel they have a special relationship with high-status people or institutions, and they often believe they have special powers or abilities.
In popular culture[edit | edit source]
Megalomania is often used in literature and popular culture to describe a character with an inflated self-view or who believes they have superior abilities. It is a common trait of characters in fiction, particularly in works of fantasy and science fiction.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- Definition of megalomania at Merriam-Webster
- Definition of megalomania at The Free Dictionary
Megalomania Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD