Crossdressing and narcissism

[Mtempel]

Do any of you other ladies get turned on by yourselves when you are in femme? I almost always do. I love looking at the many pictures I've taken of myself while dressed and can't help but get sexually aroused. I often wonder if crossdressing is a form of narcissism. I welcome your thoughts

[alwayshave]

I'm not sure I'd say turned on. I love how I feel and look. The brush of satin against my skin etc.... But not turned on, as in sexually excited.

[NancySue]

I looked up the definition of narcissism. For me, the answer is a definite "No". My dressing experiences are all positive.

[SometimesKairi]

So, you'd sleep with yourself in girl form?

[Taylor186]

Narcissism? Not likely. Sounds more like autogynephilia or a fetish to me. One definition of autogynephilia: "a man's paraphilic tendency to be sexually aroused by the thought or image of himself as a woman."

[kimdl93]

not at all. Unlike Narcissus, I really don't much care for my reflection, let alone my picture!

[Pat]

Maybe the reason you like the look of yourself is that you're seeing the person your mind is expecting to see? The person you might have been looking for for years and not seeing? Not a character flaw or a psychological anomaly, just a spark of recognition. ;)

[Sandin Meknickers]

Can't say that I do. Spend more time preening though.

Sounds like it crosses over with typical traits of narcissism. Would need to know more on your reasons for dressing and what else you get from it.

[Dana44]

Defiantly not Narcissism. I enjoy cross dressing and putting makeup on. Not sexually aroused. It just seems right.

[KPhenil]

Quite the opposite actually. I look at the pictures taken of myself and can't help spotting areas that I could do better. Or something that didn't look quite right. I am my own worst critic. But I am working on accepting the individual I am looking at in those pictures. Flaws and all.

[Mtempel]

Perhaps narcissism is to strong a word as it generally has a negative connotation. I'm really referring to Ego or sense of self and the fact that it is heightened when I'm dressed in femme and that I enjoy people paying attention to me more and being the object of attention/attraction. I still am aware of others' feeling, but mine are much more in focus. Surely more feel this way than myself. And yes I would sleep with myself 😉

[DIANEF]

I do go all out to look good when I dress, but certainly not a sexual thing, just be the best woman I can.

[Teresa]

Taylor,
That is a small part of the trait of AGP. OK I know it means to love your self as a woman but it's a small part of the whole story. I like my pictures simple because I want to be seen and accepted as woman which is also a trait of AGP, there may be an element of narcissism which I accept , yes there is also a sexual element .Not all traits are sexual in AGP , I have had to find out more about it away from the forum to get away from the totally fetish element often voiced on the forum.

Mtemple,
To answer your question, nowdays I use the mirror to check out outfits I intend to wear when I go out to my social group. I would much sooner see myself dressed than see the man hidden underneath .

[Amy Fakley]

Maybe the reason you like the look of yourself is that you're seeing the person your mind is expecting to see? The person you might have been looking for for years and not seeing? Not a character flaw or a psychological anomaly, just a spark of recognition. ;)

Ding ding ding!
For me, that's definitely true. Sexual stuff in relation to my gender stuff hasn't really been an issue since puberty passed, but a certain element of narcissism remains. What I mean by that, is that exploring one's gender identity is by definition, a journey into self. It is a self absorbed activity.

For me, it's a challenge not to fall down that well of self sometimes. It's no wonder really. When you wait months and years for the rare opportunity to let out all that has built up inside ... it can be hard not to give in to the trmptation of letting that be all you think about. But it's still important not to becone defined by this one part of you, especially when that comes at the expense of others.

[Paula2]

I think "Vanity" might be a better term to describe myself.
I do spend an excessive amount of time brushing my hair and playing with my makeup any time I happen to walk by a mirror. I am always concerned about trying to find my best look 👸

When I am not dressed and just going out in boy mode I never look in the mirror or really care about my appearance. Just throw on a hat and walk out..

[Sandin Meknickers]

Can I ask if it's the positioning of yourself in these pictures or just the clothes?

[Mtempel]

Well I do tend to go for sexy poses in these pictures and try and flatter my body with lingerie, hose, garter belts heels and cute skirts and dresses. The clothes certainly are part of it but also how they make me feel and make me want to act. I could wear a cute blouse capris and some sensible shoes, but while I'd feel some comfort in that it wouldn't stoke my ego near as much or make me desire myself

[Sandin Meknickers]

Did you get into porn young? You sound like someone I've been lol. Never objectified myself visually though. I have a touch fixation.
Props on your horniness! Hope that lasts for you.

[ginapoodle]

Thanks for an excellent question. I have had the same pondering.

For context, my older brother is a classic diagnosed narcissist. Lifetime for him, and codependent with my mother. She enables him constantly, and he feeds on anyone's emotional energy. Brother takes and takes and takes until boundaries set up or people walk away.

Dressing, for me is not full blown narcissism, but there is a selfish component to it in regards to relationships. Too much self focus, on any topic/activity can border on narcissism in my opinion. Everyone is different. YMMV

[Aneline]

Do any of you other ladies get turned on by yourselves when you are in femme? I almost always do. I love looking at the many pictures I've taken of myself while dressed and can't help but get sexually aroused. I often wonder if crossdressing is a form of narcissism. I welcome your thoughts
Yes, yes, and yes. I guess my crossdressing is a form of narcissism, but I don't think that I'm a narcissist other than in this context. Thanks for posting.

[ClosetED]

I would also go with Vanity as the best description for me. I do not get sexually excited by dressing anymore, but did when younger. Now seeing women does not get me sexually excited, as I don't see them as sex objects, but the emotional closeness and desire for each other matter much more. I do dress and try to look the way I am visually attracted to women - I love seeing blonde blue eyed women with great legs and heels. They catch my eye in catalogs and on the street. My wife is blonde and blue eyed with great legs. I don't do much with lingerie - she is not turned on by having me in it and neither am I. But they can make for very feminine photos, so I have done some. To each his own
Hugs, Ellen

[NancySue]

I agree with Paula2. I can't think of a prouder achievement than, after hours of planning, dressing, fussing, makeup, nails, etc. you finally look in the mirror, see a reflection, smile with a slight nod of the head and say "yes". Even so, when I pass by a mirror, I again try to see if additional primping is needed. sometimes yes, sometimes no. I hope Paula wears more than a hat? LOL

[Confucius]

The clothes make me feel pretty, but one look at the mirror and all I see is a man in a dress. So, no narcissism here, but crossdressing does make me happy.

[NicoleScott]

Yes, I make up and dress for the mirror and the camera. And I do go back and look at my pics. My transformations are always arousing, whether seeing myself in the mirror or viewing my pics. It's not a negative thing - quite the opposite.

[Jen60]

I just feel that, as a man, I look every minute of my 65 years. When I'm fully dressed, with wig, makeup, and jewelry, I feel at least 20 years younger and more vital. I feel actual joy in the image I see in my mirror. As a man...meh!

[Lily Catherine]

I think I'm actually quite vain to begin with, but I don't think I'm hot enough to turn myself on. Truly I say to you - I don't even want to try. It's uncanny enough to recognise myself past the make-up and clothes. If someone gets aroused at an image of me I won't be there to see it either.

[Aunt Kelly]

Nope. Not even when there was marked sexual component to my dressing, did I get a charge out of looking at myself. Don't get me wrong, I love getting pretty (and I use that term rather recklessly, I know) but it's about how I feel, not how I look to myself. Maybe that's splitting hairs, but to me it's all the difference in the world.

[Victoriafoxxtv]

Do any of you other ladies get turned on by yourselves when you are in femme? I almost always do. I love looking at the many pictures I've taken of myself while dressed and can't help but get sexually aroused. I often wonder if crossdressing is a form of narcissism. I welcome your thoughts

I always get turned on both taking the pictures and looking at them. I

[Becky Blue]

I don't think that what you are describing is a form of narcism, my lovely friend Teresa has a plausible explanation above and if its not that then maybe its simply a sexual kink, like so many others.

Of course there are narcissist CD's and narcissist trans people, just like in the general population.

[DanielleDubois]

I agree it isn't narcissism by the classical psychological definition but for me it is vanity and somewhat of an obsessive compulsive behaviour to look as female as possible. I can still get turned on looking at images of my femme self but as I have aged there is more pleasure in just trying to relax while trying to be as feminine as possible. As I have tried to explain to my spouse it is an escape into a different persona so contrary to my male side. Besides looking totally different she says I act much differently (the way I walk,sit etc.) and in fact this is one of the aspects she has had the most difficulty dealing with.

[Tracii G]

I do not get turned on looking at my pics.
Some people do I'm sure. If so they must have huge egos.
Not the kind of people I would want to associate with.

[IleneD]

Since I began to "seriously" crossdress I have found I favor mirrors more than ever before.
I wouldn't call it narcissistic. It's more of a fascination with the image. But I love the way I look en femme.

And if I'm loving myself?....... darling,, it's about time.

[donnalee]

So, you'd sleep with yourself in girl form?Do it every night. You too if you sleep dressed.
I have noticed a considerable amount of narcissism/exhibitionism in these threads; I'm more the shy/introverted type myself.

[Beverley Sims]

Yes I think I am narcissistic sometimes.

Sometimes when I look in the mirror I cant stand it for too long.

Yep! I am so sexy......

Then I wake up and find it was all just a dream. :-)

[April T]

Often I get dress when I start getting aroused so it works both ways for me.

[Stacy Darling]

No, not even on the same page!

I will come across as someone which is very egotistical and very much in love with herself,
" That's me "!

I love to pretty myself up and look nice but only get wet if someone else takes a liking to what they see!

Stacy!

[CONSUELO]

I have always thought that there is a narcissistic element to my cross dressing. I once met a fellow cross dresser at the Philbeach Hotel in London, a favorite cross dresser's hangout. He told me that the first time he had a full makeover and saw himself in the mirror he became obsessed with the "she". Is that narcissism or a parahyllia or a bit of both as Teresa has suggested.