The Idler interviews Sam Vaknin on the relevance of pathological narcissism to the W-o-T®; interesting fellow:

former economic advisor to the President of Macedonia, and frequent contributor to The Idler on international affairs, is also the author of Malignant Self Love – Narcissism Revisited, owner of the Narcissistic Abuse Study List, and webmaster of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder Topic in Suite101. He is an economic and political analyst for United Press International (UPI).

I had a scurrilous thought, while reading this, that his characterization of the terrorists sounds alarmingly like us webloggers:

The terrorist and serial killer regulate their sense of self esteem and self worth by feeding slavishly on the reactions to their heinous deeds. Their cosmic significance is daily enhanced by newspaper headlines, ever increasing bounties, admiring imitators, successful acts of blackmail, the strength and size of their opponents, and the devastation of human life and property.

Seriously, though, read the interview. The concept of pathological narcissism is an undercurrent through late-20th century civilization and its discontents.