Individuality, narcissism and the bipolar self.

Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw are introduced as great exponents of the cult of individuality and as providing examples of the two poles of the self as defined by Kohut. Wilde's need for mirroring, and his use of defensive strategies to support the self, is contrasted with Shaw's compensatory use of idealization to create a strong and stable self. While acknowledging the way self psychology can explain some aspects of the personalities of these great men, it is also suggested that it does not explain all, and in particular does not explain the economic aspect. Questions about the latter are raised in conclusion.