285. Narcissism vs. Emotional Immaturity: How to Set Boundaries with Family & Work on YOU with Lindsay C. Gibson

Step into the interactive conversation between Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Paul Conti in the Huberman Lab podcast as they examine the dynamics of building and maintaining healthy relationships. This episode explores topics such as understanding the role of the generative drive, the influence of environment on compatibility, and the power of shared traumatic experiences in establishing connections. Delve into the depths of the subconscious mind and uncover how unresolved traumas and societal pressures shape our relationships, often leading to damaging behaviors.

The discussion continues with insightful dialouge on key strategies for navigating relationships; emphasizing the importance of open communication, setting personal boundaries, identifying unhealthy relationship patterns, and managing disparate drives and goals. With an exploration into the complex world of abusive relationships, Dr. Conti introduces the intimidating concept of the ‘dark triad.’ The podcast concludes with an emphasis on the need for self-awareness, introspection, and effective boundary-setting as essential tools for fostering healthier relationships. Tune into this powerful conversation for a deep dive into the intricacies of human relationships.

In Coach the Person, Not the Problem, Marcia Reynolds seeks to expand people’s understanding of coaching. She argues that coaching is a partnership in which coaches help clients examine and challenge deep-seated beliefs that limit them, rather than a surface level, problem-solving exercise in which an expert doles out advice.

Reynolds is a leadership and executive coach who has advanced degrees in education, communications, and organizational psychology. Through working with a range of clients—including corporations like AT&T and American Express, universities, and government agencies—she discovered that lasting change comes only when people confront the underlying assumptions and emotions that have led them into the same, problematic situations time and again.

This guide examines Reynolds’s approach to coaching, five practices she uses to empower clients, and techniques to hone your coaching skills. Additionally, we provide expert perspectives that support, counter, and contextualize Reynolds’s work.

Why do we make the same bad choices over and over? Why do we constantly find ourselves in unfulfilling relationships, hating our jobs, and rubbing people the wrong way—and not knowing why? The authors of The School of Life have an answer: because you lack emotional intelligence. According to them, we’re not taught how to understand and cope with our feelings and the feelings of others, and this leads us to make poor decisions and to be miserable. However, by developing emotional intelligence across several realms of life, you can better understand yourself and lead a happier life.

The School of Life is an educational organization that offers materials to support personal growth. Several of its authors collaborated on this book. In this guide, we’ll discuss the authors’ argument that we don’t have emotional intelligence and examine how they say you can gain emotional intelligence about yourself, others, relationships, and work. We’ll supplement this with scientific research that backs up or contradicts some of the authors’ claims, and with insights from other self-help authors on ways to implement the authors’ advice.

Many of us have met someone who’s a little too vain and loves to show off—people often referred to as “narcissists.” However, despite this common understanding of narcissism as a mildly annoying personality trait, it can also be a severe clinical condition called Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). This type of narcissist—sometimes called a “malignant narcissist”—lacks empathy, has a grandiose sense of self, and often abuses their romantic partners, causing them long-term psychological distress.

In Power, researcher and abuse survivor Shahida Arabi describes the characteristics of malignant narcissists to help people avoid or end relationships with narcissists. She says understanding NPD is crucial because anyone can fall prey to narcissists, who often seem like ideal partners in the early stages.

In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of NPD, describe a narcissist’s signature manipulation strategies, and outline Arabi’s advice for healing after narcissistic abuse. We’ll also provide insight from other experts on how abuse impacts people psychologically and include tips that apply more broadly to navigating relationships and breakups.

Even though we’re all human, most of us don’t understand what drives people (including ourselves) to feel and behave the way we do. In The Laws of Human Nature, author Robert Greene looks at several laws that explain, among other things, why we self-sabotage, behave differently in groups, and want the wrong things.

Armed with the knowledge of these fundamentals of human nature, you can manage toxic people, become more empathetic, make people like you, and control your own nature.

In "The Mel Robbins Podcast," renowned speaker and author Mel Robbins teams up with distinguished trial lawyer Rebecca Zung to tackle the pervasive and often misunderstood issue of narcissism. In a powerful episode, Zung redefines narcissism—moving past simplistic notions of vanity to unravel its complex psychological underpinnings. Drawing on extensive experience, they provide a rare glimpse into the underlying emotional immaturity that characterizes narcissists and lays bare the nuanced spectrum of narcissistic behavior, from grandiosity to covert manipulation.

Beyond mere identification, Robbins and Zung share a wealth of knowledge on how to handle interactions with narcissists effectively. Equipped with Zung's expertly crafted four-step negotiation plan and her innovative S.L.A.Y methodology, listeners are empowered to navigate the treacherous waters of narcissistic relationships. They discuss everything from the initial love bombing to the final discard phase with practical tips for maintaining self-worth and preserving personal power. Robbins' candid conversation with Zung serves as a guiding light for anyone seeking to reclaim their power from the grip of narcissistic influence.

In Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, psychologist Lindsey Gibson dispels the myth that “parents know best,” revealing the damage that emotionally neglectful parents can do to their children. Gibson explores key features of emotionally underdeveloped parents and how their behavior impacts their children. She also provides strategies to help adults who suffered childhood emotional neglect turn their relationship with their parent from toxic to tolerable, and develop healthier emotional connections with others.

Gibson is an adult psychotherapy and personal growth counseling specialist. She wrote Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents to help survivors of emotional neglect free themselves from dysfunctional relationships with their parents and find emotional fulfillment.

In this guide we’ll look at traits of emotionally underdeveloped parents, coping mechanisms children employ to survive emotional neglect, challenges that those children face in adulthood, and strategies they can use to heal and move forward. We’ll also provide additional viewpoints on living through and moving beyond childhood emotional neglect.