General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The root of all problems with guns [View all]marions ghost
(19,841 posts)is serious and not often identified until someone is much older. The fact that the OP dad is worried means that he is onto it already. NPD is difficult to treat, as it's an obsessive disorder, but improvement can be made.
The father is right. This type can be volatile, abusive, and should not be around lethal weapons. NPD is theorized as an early maladaptation to family stress-- and thus compassion, identification, and help is the best way to go. I'm not up enough on breaking the cycle in adolescents, but I think if the pattern can be seen clearly in a teen, it would be wise to seek help. If the son refuses, the parents should go--they need to know how to deal with it and that can go a long way to improving things.
Dad--you are onto something. Don't be afraid of this but if you care, don't ignore it. Thanks for posting.