- AGAIN - Only a qualified professional can make a diagnosis of Narcissism.
- There are different types of Narcissist and each one may have many additional disorders.
- The diagnosis criteria for a Narcissist is captured in the DSM-5 (see link is links section):
- Have a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents).
- Be preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
- Believe that they are “special” and can only be understood by other special or high-status people.
- Require excessive admiration.
- Have a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment).
- Take advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.
- Lack empathy: or is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
- Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of them.
- Show arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
- Additionally, there different types of Narcissist, these are the most typical:
- Grandiose This is also known as the “classic” or stereotypical narcissist and what many think of when they use this term. These individuals are typically described as arrogant, entitled, charming, grandiose, superficial, and vain.
- Covert/Vulnerable The covert/vulnerable narcissist is characterized by a lack of empathy, entitlement, hypersensitivity, passive aggressive behavior, sense of justice, resentment, insecurity, low levels of self-esteem, and higher levels of depression. Contempt is pervasive and prominent in these individuals. In the extreme of this presentation, these individuals tend to exhibit behaviors consistent with sociopathy.
- Malignant This is the most toxic and aversive type of narcissist. “This form takes the grandiose narcissist and adds a more exploitative, antagonistic, Machiavellian, and, at times, seemingly psychopathic overlay… Malignant narcissists drive people to the edge and leave them feeling betrayed, fearful, manipulated, tricked, and devastated”
- Communal Communal narcissists are wholly engaged in the community and post everything online about their pursuits in changing the world.