Accounting for experiences of inattention: The case of narcissism

Abstract

This paper explores how a self-proclaimed narcissist narrates experiences of inattention – moments when others appear indifferent toward him. Drawing on narrative discourse analysis, we examine three segments from a collection of narratives that concern social encounters categorized as complete ignorance, blunt disregard, and uneven recognition. The narrator describes the experiences by utilizing the interpretative repertoires of downplaying and amplifying, both of which obscure vulnerability. In the downplaying repertoire, the significance of the event is minimized. In the amplifying repertoire, the situation is framed as morally wrong and in need of intervention. We argue that such patterns are not exclusive to narcissistic individuals but reflect broader cultural norms to avoid vulnerability in everyday discourse, aligning with neoliberal ideals of self-sufficiency. The study contributes to theoretical understandings of recognition, narrative identity, and discursive negotiation of accounts for problematic experiences, highlighting the need for communicative spaces where vulnerability can be expressed without stigma.