The Subtle Tyranny of the God Complex in Love

Uncover the often invisible threads that weave through the tapestry of human relationships, particularly those entangled with the grandiose God complex. I'm Dr. Bola Sogade, and through a potent mix of professional insight and raw, real-life experiences, we examine the profound impact of narcissism in our lives. We navigate the treacherous waters of self-importance and control as seen in those who, consumed by a God complex, place themselves on a pedestal of omnipotence, often to the detriment of their interpersonal connections. Prepare to confront the manipulative behaviors and entitlement that spring from this extreme superiority, and consider how it hinders personal growth and happiness.

Join me as we share the heartfelt journey of Lillian and Charles, a couple whose pseudonyms guard their privacy as they bravely open up about their struggle against the tidal waves of narcissism in their relationship. Their candid story serves as a beacon of hope and a source of strategies for those caught in similar storms. Listen to their unfiltered challenges and victories, and perhaps see a reflection of your own relationships. This is more than just a conversation; it's an opportunity to understand, to learn, and to transform the way we perceive and deal with the pervasive influence of narcissism.

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Episode Transcript

Dr Bola Sogade (00:00):
Thank you for listening to CocoaPods podcast.
This is your host, dr BolaSogade.
I'm a women's health specialist.
So what is the God Complex ?

(00:34):
Complex within the context ofnarcissism refers to an extreme
manifestation of grandiosity andsuperiority where an individual
believes they are omnipotent,infallible and beyond reproach.
This term draws parallel to theidea of a deity or god,

(00:55):
suggesting that the person withthe narcissistic tendencies sees
themselves as being on a levelabove mere mortals, with the
power to control and manipulateothers as they see fit.
Individuals with a God complexmay exhibit a profound sense of
entitlement, believing they areentitled to special treatment

(01:18):
and unquestioning obedience fromothers.
Obedience from others.
They may also display a lack ofempathy, viewing others as mere
pawns or objects to be used fortheir own benefit.
This complex can lead todestructive behaviors and
interpersonal difficulties, asthe individual's inflated sense

(01:40):
of self-importance oftenalienates those around them.
So the God complex representsan extreme form of superiority
where the individual viewsthemselves as all-powerful and
above the rules that governordinary people.
This inflated self-view canlead to manipulative behavior

(02:03):
and a desire for control overothers.
The other is that they'realways worried about protecting
themselves from getting hurt.
They might chase things likesuccess or attention to feel
safe.
This stops them from growing asa person.

(02:32):
Being the sole provider in ahousehold can potentially
contribute to the propagation ofnarcissistic behavior in a man
through several mechanisms.
One of the mechanisms isthrough power and control
dynamics.
So the role of the soleprovider may imbue the man with
a sense of power and controlover the household's finances
and decisions.
This dominance can reinforcefeelings of superiority and

(02:56):
entitlement.
These are already common traitsin narcissism.
Number two validation andidentity.
Providing for the family maybecome closely tied to the man's
sense of self-worth andidentity.
If he perceives his valuessolely through his role as a

(03:17):
breadwinner, it can lead to aninflated sense of
self-importance and a need forconstant validation and
admiration.
Number three dependencydynamics.
Dependence on him for financialsupport can create a dynamic
where others in the householdare reliant on him, potentially

(03:39):
fostering a belief that hisneeds and desires should take
precedence over others.
Number four a lack ofaccountability.
As the sole provider, the manmay face less scrutiny or
challenge to his behavior withinthe household, allowing
narcissistic tendencies to gounchecked and potentially

(04:03):
escalate.
And then there's isolation fromfeedback.
With the primary responsibilityfor financial support, the man
may become isolated fromfeedback or perspectives that
could challenge his narcissisticbehaviors, leading to a
reinforcement of these traitsover time.
And then, lastly, emotionaldistancing Focusing solely on

(04:27):
providing financially may leadto emotional detachment from
other aspects of family life,further exacerbating
narcissistic tendencies asempathy and emotional connection
diminish.
So it's important to note thatnot all men who are sole
providers in their householdswill develop narcissistic

(04:49):
behaviors.
However, the dynamics andpressures associated with the
role can contribute to theamplification or reinforcement
of pre-existing narcissistictraits in some individuals.
Traits in some individuals.

(05:18):
In our upcoming episode, we'regoing to talk about a real-life
couple anonymized through namechange Lillian and Charles.
They're going to give anaccount of difficulties they had
in their relationship and howthey have overcome the
difficulties, hoping thatsomebody out there can learn
from some of the strategies thatthey used to help their own

(05:39):
struggling relationship at thispoint.
So please listen first toLillian, the wife that's her
pseudonym and Charles, thehusband, as they come up in the
upcoming series.
So we've been using this wordnarcissistic for the past

(06:05):
several episodes.
I want to talk about the mythof Narcissus.
Where did this word come from?
What are some of thecircumstances surrounding this
word?
So in the myth of Narcissus, ittalks about a story from Greek
mythology that revolves around ahandsome young man named

(06:26):
Narcissus.
The tale is primarily recountedin Ovid's Metamorphoses and
other classical texts.
According to the myth, narcissuswas known for his exceptional
beauty, but he was alsoexceedingly proud and disdainful
of those who loved him.

(06:47):
One day, as he was wanderingthrough the forest, he
encountered the nymph Echo, whoinstantly fell in love with him.
However, narcissus rejected heradvances, cursing Echo to pine
away until only her voiceremained.
The goddess Nemesis, observingNarcissus' arrogance and cruelty

(07:12):
, decided to punish him.
She led him to a pool of waterwhere he caught sight of his own
reflection.
Narcissus was captivated by theimage of his own beauty and
fell deeply in love with it,despite realizing that it was
merely his own reflection, hecouldn't tear himself away from

(07:34):
the pool.
Becoming increasingly obsessedwith his own image, narcissus
remained by the pool, piningaway until he eventually died.
In some versions of the myth,he either drowns in the pool
while trying to embrace hisreflection, or wastes away from
longing and despair, unable toleave the sight of himself.

(07:57):
The myth of Narcissus has beeninterpreted in various ways
throughout history, oftenserving as a cautionary tale
about vanity, self-absorptionand the destructive nature of
excessive self-love.
It has also inspired numerousworks of art, literature and

(08:19):
psychology, with the termnarcissism being derived from
Narcissist's name to describeexcessive self-admiration or
self-centeredness.
In our upcoming episode we talkmore with Lillian and Charles

(08:42):
and see how ego intertwines withall of this.
Thank you for listening toCocoaPods Podcast.