- Freud borrowed the Narcissus myth from Ovid in 1914, coining a key psychological term for inward-directed love.
- The term became a psychiatric diagnosis (narcissistic personality disorder) by 1980 and later broadened in everyday use.
- Modern psychology views narcissism as a continuum, part of the Dark Tetrad alongside Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism.
- AI chatbots now serve as perfect mirrors for narcissistic traits, offering flattery and non-stop engagement.