I hope your health is improving.

Thank you, Ms. B. Haven. Believe me when I say that I find this conversation very interesting. Since English is not my native language, I may have misunderstood.

Those who meditate usually have no perception of either boredom or self while ‘waiting.’ Meditation functions to create a detachment from certain identifying emotions. I say this because I have practiced it.

From my humble point of view, those who are narcissistic are born that way; it is very difficult to correct. They have the ability to adapt for self-preservation, and empathy is non-existent in them, even towards their children or other kids, though they use it to manipulate others. Boredom can be a point of stimulus but is always motivated by their true nature.

The lack of capacity for empathy.

Marie, thank you for what you wrote. That from a spiritual perspective scn supports the ego (and thus narcissism) is something I have always maintained. The idea of having true “certainties” can definitely generate a narcissistic attitude. So many scientologists fall into this trap. But I am not certain that it permanently transforms them into this type of person. The natural absence of empathy is something else. Empathy has to do with awareness of one’s own emotions and those of others. If it is absent, you see no one except yourself (and what you think is pursuing you).

In other times they were called ‘people with no soul”.

I agree that boredom doesn’t seem to be an issue for them as they are constantly doing and searching for things that will make them shine .
As far as Scientology ‘s footprint, it creates narcissists in my view , because they cannot experience other’s emotions . The « no case on post «  , do not talk about your case , which amounts to not saying anything about yourself . Over time , the Scientologist becomes unable to truly understand others and even starts to look down on a display of emotion or simply ignores it as it is at first forbidden and soon completely foreign to their way of thinking.
And that’s how you turn good meaning people into narcissists. They can turn around once out , if they were not narcissists in the first place , but that’s another story .

LMR, I probably didn’t make my point very well, but your response confirms my suspicions when you say “If they get bored (meaning nothing is happening), they will make something happen at others’ expense.”

To give a couple of extreme examples, take a yogi (or yogini) meditating in a cave for long periods of time. They are no doubt going to experience boredom in this solitary pursuit. I think that someone like this would be the furthest thing from a narcissist as one could be. Someone like this might be self-centered if they are doing it for themselves and their own benefit but they aren’t harming others. On the other hand, take someone like Hubbard (or any other cult leader). They can’t be by themselves. They HAVE to be the center of attention and they surround themselves with fawning followers. They can’t deal with the boredom that naturally arises when they are not in the spotlight. If anyone crosses or questions them, those folks are dealt with harshly. Very harshly. Hubbard, even in his declining years, had to be surrounded by devout followers even though he was on the lam.

Of course, there are people who tend to be introverted and might be more comfortable dealing with boredom in life than extroverts might be. That doesn’t mean that extroverts are necessarily narcissists. I believe narcissists come about because they can’t deal with boredom, it terrifies them, and they do everything in their power to put the lid on that at everyone else’s expense. Hence the pathological lack of empathy.

Ms B. Haven, based on what I observed having two like this in the family, I don’t think boredom is a factor. On the contrary, they are quite active, always looking for a way to be in the spotlight or to control others. If they get bored (meaning nothing is happening), they will make something happen at others’ expense.

In the most extreme cases (which I have seen with my own eyes), they destroy things or situations without any sense of responsibility. In these cases, they have completely crossed the threshold into madness, although they are capable of twisting the obvious truth to justify themselves. They are neither manageable nor curable.

I think the key aspect (as you yourself mention) is that they are incapable of any empathy, and if they seem to show it, they are only pretending to manipulate you. They are incapable of it, and this handicap is a void they cannot fill and they see empaty actually as weakness and a tool to control others.

“What would Ron do?” is a classic line that He wrote that helped each and every $cientologist go down that rabbit hole of emulating and adoring Ron by trying to be just like Him.

Even the Demented Maggot has followed His example and uses gestures etc. that Hubbard used. Ans soooo many peeps who leave the Kult have commented that now they are more themselves and have more empathy and less entitlement etc. etc..

So yeah, I personally believe that $cientology does bring out the narcissist in even the best-meaning of us and it’s probably why it’s so hard to get peeps to “see the light” and jump off that Bridge to Nowhere – I mean, when does ANY narcissist admit to being wrong? Some like a certain Mr. Rathbun revert back to type (if they ever actually left that postcode) and return to being classic textbook-type Narcissists and “we” don’t understand why.

Thanks so much for posting this series, Mike. I’ve been at war with a textbook malignant narcissist at my workplace for a couple of years and finally have gotten Management to move them on. And the place is so much better to work at. This is vital, real technology that does improve the lives of real people.

HPM, I’m going to disagree with a lot of what you are saying here. Speaking strictly for myself, I got in looking for peace of mind and if able to find that, share it with others. scientology can certainly cater to one’s need to feel special and superior to others but not all of us felt the need to go down that path. There’s nothing particularly wrong with wanting to improve one’s lot in life but scientology promotes elitism and has a definite lack of empathy. No matter why someone gets in, narcissist or not, the bottom line is that the cult doesn’t deliver on what it promises and is nothing more than a world class con.

Scientology, a religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard in the mid-20th century, has been noted for its appeal to individuals with narcissistic tendencies. The structure, teachings, and practices of Scientology provide an environment where narcissists can thrive.

The Appeal of Scientology to Narcissists

Scientology’s doctrines emphasize self-improvement, personal power, and the attainment of a god-like state known as “Clear” and “Operating Thetan” (OT). These goals are highly appealing to narcissists, who are drawn to any ideology that promises to elevate them above others. The rigorous auditing process, which claims to clear individuals of negative influences and traumas, aligns with the narcissist’s desire for self-perfection and dominance over their environment.

Furthermore, Scientology promotes a hierarchical structure with clear paths to ascendancy, offering constant opportunities for validation and recognition. The organization’s emphasis on exclusivity and the possession of esoteric knowledge also caters to the narcissist’s need to feel special and superior.