The terminal extreme of self-esteem, named after the unfortunate Greek shepherd boy, who wasted away from being in love with his own appearance. Unlike more ordinary vanity, which seeks the applause and admiration of other people, narcissism requires no external applause. In the myth the only voice Narcissus hears is that of Echo, that is, his own voice telling him of his own beauty. This degree of self-affirmation can lead to hubris, grandiose overconfidence, a bullying or manipulative attitude to others, and the messianic belief that one answers only to God, or to History. It is the characteristic deformation of many politicians and captains of industry. See also conceit.