Inside Reading Book 1: Unit 5 Psychology – ‘I Love Me’

Introduction

The story of Narcissus is one of the most famous in Greek & Roman mythology. It tells the story of a handsome boy who is very vain (obsessed with his own appearance and looks). He does not accept the love of ‘Echo’ and cruelly rejects her. The Gods decide to curse (punish) Narcissus…

Video

Click on the link below to watch a short film “An Echo of Narcissus” and as you watch try to answer questions 1-4 in the table below:

Note: This film includes scenes where Narcissus is not wearing a shirt, so the top half of his body is uncovered. Please do not watch the film if you feel uncomfortable with this, go straight to the text comprehension activities.

No Question Answer

1 Who did Narcissus love?

2 Narcissus could not see his own reflection in the lake at night. True / False

3 Why did Narcissus cry?

4 Why did the lake weep (cry)?

Comprehension

Read the first two paragraphs of the text and use the information to try to answer these questions.

1. Which of these jobs do you think people with narcissistic personality disorder are more likely want to do? (a) actor / singer (b) a volunteer worker for a medical charity (c) a teacher

2. Who do Narcissists, people with narcissistic personality disorder, focus most of their attention on?

‘Narcissus’ by the Italian painter Caravaggio

Narcissus flowers

An Echo of Narcissus

Inside Reading Book 1: Unit 5 Psychology – ‘I Love Me’

Exercise A

Read the rest of the text and decide if the statements below are True / False.

1. Narcissists demand attention from everyone, including colleagues and strangers.

2. A narcissist might try to exploit people because he believes he is very important.

3. A narcissist is aware of other people’s failures and shows concern for them.

4. Narcissists often lie about their achievements and dominate conversations with stories about themselves.

5. Some psychiatrists believe the narcissistic behavior is related to a feeling of not being successful.

6. Some psychiatrists believe that parents might have a role to play in creating narcissism in their children.

7. Becoming famous is what makes celebrities narcissistic.

Vocabulary

Read through the text in more detail now and number the paragraphs – there are 10 in total. Identify the words in the text which match these meanings.

No Paragraph Word Part of Speech

Meaning

1 1 (v) To look at something/one with enjoyment because you find it attractive.

2 2 (v) To take advantage of someone or something for selfish reasons.

3 3 (adj) Saddened, disappointed, discouraged.

4 4 (v)To talk with someone in a playful way, perhaps because they are considered attractive.

5 5 (v)Boasts, tell people how good you and/or your achievements are.

6 5 (n) Your measure of confidence in yourself.

7 6 (n) A feeling of guilt or unhappiness, possibly because you feel you have done something wrong.

8 7 (n) pl Personality characteristics or behavior patterns.

9 8 (n) Medical treatment to help deal with mental or emotional problems.

10 8 (n)Something which encourages you to work hard to achieve a goal.

Inside Reading Book 1: Unit 5 Psychology – ‘I Love Me’

Exercise B

Now use information from the text to complete the sentences below which help to summarise the personal characteristics of people who are narcissistic.

1. They are often…

2. Narcissists think of themselves as being….

3. They try to …

4. They demand… from…

5. They like to…

6. They often dominate…

7. They tend to exaggerate…

8. They believe the role of other people is…

Do you think any of these people are narcissists?