The pathological gambler's system for self-deception

Many pathological gamblers fit the criteria for narcissistic personality disorder, while most show prominent narcissistic features. The building blocks of this kind of personality are described: the primitive defense mechanisms of splitting, projection, idealization and devaluation, omnipotence and denial. The types of deception and self-deception observed in the clinical setting are offered as examples of these mechanisms. For therapy to be successful, it is suggested that four areas require special understanding 1.) the patients' omnipotence 2.) the confusion over boundary issues 3.) their idealization of destructiveness 4.) their lying.