For Kohut, narcissistic rage is related to narcissists' need for total
control of their environment, including "the need for revenge, for righting a wrong, for undoing a hurt by whatever means".
[21] It is an attempt by the narcissist to turn from a passive sense of
victimization to an active role in giving pain to others, while at the same time attempting to rebuild their own (actually false) sense of self-worth. It may also involve self-protection and preservation, with rage serving to restore a sense of safety and power by destroying that which had threatened the narcissist.
[21]
Alternatively, according to Kohut, rages can be seen as a result of the
shame at being faced with failure.
[22] Narcissistic rage is the uncontrollable and unexpected anger that results from a narcissistic injury – a threat to a narcissist's
self-esteem or worth. Rage comes in many forms, but all pertain to the same important thing:
revenge. Narcissistic rages are based on fear and will endure even after the threat is gone.
[23]
To the narcissist, the rage is directed towards the person that they feel has slighted them; to other people, the rage is incoherent and unjust. This rage
impairs their cognition, therefore impairing their
judgment. During the rage they are prone to shouting, fact distortion and making
groundless accusations.
[24] In his book
The Analysis of the Self, Kohut explains that expressions caused by a sense of things not going the expected way blossom into rages, and narcissists may even search for conflict to find a way to alleviate pain or suffering.
[25]
