Leverage with Rebecca Zung Love and Narcissism with Guest Susan Schwartz on Leverage with Rebecca Zung #1
Feb 6, 2026
Susan Schwartz, Jungian psychoanalyst and author, brings decades of clinical wisdom on love, narcissism, trauma bonds, boundaries, and inner work. She explores why narcissism forms and why empathic partners get hooked. Short, clear takes on why healing a narcissist is difficult, how trauma bonds keep people stuck, and how self-knowledge and firm boundaries enable real recovery.
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Narcissism As A Defensive Persona
- Jungian view links narcissism to early relational wounds and a protective persona.
- Narcissism functions as a defense against being known and seen, masking deep insecurity.
Name It And Set Boundaries
- Don't wait for a narcissist to magically learn empathy; name the hurt and give feedback.
- Call out behavior clearly and set boundaries instead of staying on a slim thread of hope.
Different Roles From The Same Wound
- Siblings can develop opposite strategies to the same parental wounds: one grandiose, one empathic.
- Family dynamics and individual temperament shape whether a child becomes narcissistic or empathic.
