The Exalted Self: Derek Freeman' Quest for the Perfect Identity

Abstract

From about 1960, anthropologist Derek Freeman was shadowed by a reputation that he was a "difficult man" who suffered from a mysterious psychological disorder. Until his last breath, he denied imputations of a disorder, styled them "defamatory," and unequivocally affirmed his complete mental health and self-control. In this article, I use correspondence, archival documents, and published information to propose that Freeman's deficit was the narcissist personality disorder. His most conspicuous personality traits are shown to be consistent with or expressive of this disorder. His signature achievement, the ostensible "refutation" of Margaret Mead's Coming of Age in Samoa, is consistent with the proposed diagnosis.