Succession: A Psychologist Breaks Down The Narcissism in Each Character

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DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE. THIS VIDEO DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL.

THE VIDEO DOES NOT REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON, AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON, AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS VIDEO, ESPECIALLY TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION THAT THE MAKERS OF THIS VIDEO BELIEVE, OR SUPPORT A CLAIM, THAT A SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE VIDEO AND THE INFORMATION FEATURED IN IT.

[enraegen]

I watched the show with my ex. His comment: "It would be so cool to be part of this family. I think I would be really good at this!"
I was mortified.

[brynnleapierce]

You didn't mention the “Mother of the kids” though you see her rarely who truly was void of any maternal instincts a cold, frigid emotionally empty woman who is all about self-preservation!

[AhmedEtman]

"Everyone underestimates Tom and that's a mistake." That aged like fine wine.

[SilentTrip]

Can this ve a series? Analysing narcissism in fiction? I really love it

[theresacane]

My ex was a total Tom Wambsgans. Completely confusing how much he’d perfected the “everyman” and bumbling nerdy guy trope. It was hard not to trust him but something in my gut always questioned how real it was. And I found out the hard way it wasn’t.

[lpycb]

This is the most accurate analysis of the Roys ever. Shiv is Logan’s daughter for sure. All of them together are like a 3 headed monster that create Logan. Kendall has the business acumen, Roman has the charisma and negotiation skills, and Shiv has the tenacity and ruthlessness of her father.

[rheaelise]

Finally someone who agrees with me about Shiv! It always bothered me extremely that she acted so altruistic when in fact she was the most horrible. She would throw anyone under the bus. See how she sacrificed Kendall and Tom. At least Roman and Kendall showed moments of genuine care and concern for their siblings. Shiv is dangerous because she can trick you into thinking she cares about you and then slice you up. I think she's a little psychopathic

[lorawhitener]

Loved this! I have often dissected these characters myself! I would be interested in your take on Logan's previous wife Lady Caroline (Kendall, Roman, and Shiv's mother) If you recall, Kendall tried to open up to her about the terrible accident in England and her response was something like "Can we talk in the morning? Mummy is tired" and then she totally deserted him! Funny story... when I was in New York last summer we came back to our hotel around 1 a.m and they were shooting Succession across the street. We watched them film a scene with all 4 siblings and then I was able to talk to them briefly. I especially love Shiv's character and Sarah Snook was so gracious and sweet, as well as the others. It was a real honor to get to tell them how much I love their work.

[oober]

Succession is fascinating and exhausting at the same time. I feel like I'm watching my family' dynamics playing out. I cannot binge the show because of how much it matches my family's behavior. I really hope we can see some measure of humanity win over in one of the characters. Maybe one of them will somehow see the light and just walk away.

[gigibtsurvivor]

Mad Men was clearly about a sex addicted narcissist. And I agree, Succession lands the many forms of narcissistic expression.

[m_li_ma]

They're all pretty fucked up, but Kendall will always be my dearest. I feel like he's a forever child trapped in an adult's body and every time he tries to take more responsibility than he's usually used to, he collapses. He clings to validation constantly, and it just seems to me that he's a child who had never experienced true love and care. That scene in which he says to Logan that he's a better person than him broke my heart.
I'll miss this show.

[alonzomosley]

I watched Succession it was only in the last series that it dawned on me, Logan Roy was a caricature of my narcissistic father .I heard Brian Cox discussing Logan, who is unable to express love to his children, perhaps through never having received it himself. You can see there is something sad about him.There is something quite locked within him .He obviously wanted to prove something in relationship to his family .I think it always comes down to family.Imagine being a human being whose genuine love is expressed with so much cruelty .I cant believe a TV series gave me an insight into my fathers behaviour.

[rixatrix]

I love Succession because it lets me laugh about the same behavior I was raised with. I’m grateful to be able to laugh about it, after many years of therapy, and the show makes it so clear how ridiculous these people are. Still, I’d rather have the narcissists in my life behind the TV screen rather than in everyday interactions.

[LloydWaldo]

I feel that Connor has had some of the most interesting development this year. Willa turned out to be her own person, and he also seemed to realize that his father was forever out of reach.

[jeu-de-paume]

Dr. Ramani, you're my fave! But I am seeing one character missing here, who is a source of endless entertainment for me! He also illustrates the narcissistic family dynamic so well. *I'm talking about Greg's "gramps"!* That's also a character that might give people some pause, but I'm pegging him as thoroughly narcissistic and very much part of the 'Roy' brand of dysfunction.
*He displays patterns of both vulnerable and communal narcissism, * being bitterly jealous of his brother's success, and devaluing everything that's associated with Logan in order to console his fragile ego (rather than because of his strong moral compass, as gramps himself believes it). Gramps poses as a perennial victim of the world's unfairness, and enjoys taking the 'holier than thou' attitude toward his brother's family—yet he also enjoys the financial benefits of their success, without once expressing a desire to decouple himself from this 'dirty' enterprise. His ultimatum to Greg is also an example of his narcissism. While it's couched in the language of care (for Greg's soul, presumably), it is nothing more than an attempt to control and punish his grandchild who is choosing his more successful brother over him—an insult to his injury. All this is, of course, a very logical consequence of the Roy family's inter-generational patterns. Because gramps dealt with devaluing his whole life (and is now firmly positioned as the 'failure' in his family system dominated by his brother), he had to come up with defense mechanisms. Performing his moral superiority toward the people who treat him as inferior seems to be his jam!

[moniquejackson]

Awesome breakdown. My nervous system can't handle watching shows like this, but break downs like this are so critical to seeing the Narcissism around us. Thank you!

[amarbyrd]

Caroline! Stewy! Part 2 of this brilliant "media analysis of a cultural phenomenon so many of us are dealing with" series, please 🙏 😀 👏

[victoriacorcoran]

So right, the way Shiv views Tom, the way Tom treats Greg, Kendall's broken relationship with his beautiful ex wife, Roman so screwed up, Connor deluded, asking his Dad for a spare hundred million, Logan's ex wife Caroline, the mother of the 3 clearly so over it all for peace (her back story, no doubt very interesting)…I still find myself having most empathy for Kendall

[deseuryderia]

roman roy has single-handedly brought my “i could fix him” mindset back 💀

[bellaf]

I love how it feels like I’m listening to an educated friend talk to me personally ❤