What Does “Narcissism” Mean?
Narcissism can be defined as showing great interest in getting admired by others for one’s talent or physical features even when they are not present in reality. In psychological point of view, narcissistic people are extremely self centered without caring for others and they often crave for admiration from others. They are often arrogant and show no sympathy or empathy for other’s feelings and they exhibit this character to identify themselves from others.
Personality Disorder
A person is said to have personality disorder if his/her behavior and inner feelings differ from the society. There are certain norms set for each society and whenever a person behaves in different way that is not accepted as “normal” he/she is said to have problems in personality. This kind of enduring pattern can be seen in interpersonal functions and the behavior is not consistent in nature. It typically causes significant distress to others at home, school and office.
The onset of any personality disorder begins during adolescence or sometimes in early adulthood. People affected with narcissistic personality disorder are self centric and crave for admiration and attention from the society. They believe them to be special and superior to others and live in an inflated feeling and thinking high. A person with NPD has very low self esteem and cannot tolerate even mild criticism. It is difficult for any spouse/partner to live with them since they show no empathy for anyone except him/her. NPD people have trouble in making and sustaining any relationships and have problems in school or workplace.
They often crave for special attention and favors since they strongly believe that they deserve it. No relationship can satisfy and fulfill them and it is difficult for any person to be happy with them. They have the feeling of getting primary importance even with strangers they meet. They show disdainful and snobbish behavior and are often complaining about other’s rudeness. People with NPD are highly sensitive and react wildly for even small criticism.
What Are The Warning Signs To Identify NPD?
People with NPD have the following signs ranging from mild to severe.
- They are self centric and have inflated feelings of their appearance and talents.
- They expect to be admired constantly even for silly things.
- Though they have not done anything great, still they wish to be treated as special and superior.
- It becomes a habit for them to exaggerate their talents and achievements in front of others.
- NPD people have a tendency to think about their power, success and beauty and they often get involved with these thoughts.
- They consider themselves as superior and would like to talk with famous and powerful people around them.
- While indulging in conversation they are always dominant and demean and under-value other people, since they believe others to be inferior.
- It is usual for them to expect unique favors and immediate compliance from others.
- They are likely to take advantage of feelings of others.
- NPD people just don’t bother and care about others and they may not even fulfill their basic needs even for spouse and children.
- They have tendency to be jealous of others.
- They have considerable difficulty in handling criticism since they are highly sensitive.
- While talking with others they are mostly arrogant and have a tendency to boast about their pride.
- They get short tempered and become impatient if they are not treated as special.
- A person with NPD cannot sustain relationship since they have zero tolerance and they seldom respect their partner’s feelings.
- It is quite common for them to have interpersonal problems in life.
- They are more likely to act with emotional outburst since they have problem in controlling emotions.
- It is difficult for them to deal with stress and it is not easy for them to change their behavior since they believe that they are right.
- In the inner mind they have feelings of shame and insecurity.
What Are Marked Features Of People With NPD?
Feelings Of Grandiose
An interesting feature of NPD is the affected person would have the feeling of grandeur although he/she is not. The affected person shall have an unrealistic feeling of pride and superiority. They always consider them to be “special” and demands special treatment. Since they believe they are more than average they would like to move with rich and affluent people. Though they have done nothing to recognize them as “special” still they believe and think big about their talents, appearance and achievements.
Living In An Imaginary World
People with narcissistic personality have magical thinking and live in an imaginary world deceiving themselves and the society. They constantly tell some fantasy stories to backup their unlimited potential, success and achievements. In reality they are filled with feelings of guilt, shame and inferiority. To fill up the space of emptiness they build up success and brilliance in their path that are exactly opposite to what they really possess. If anyone tries to condemn their power and success stories they tend to react defensively and even go the extent of violence and anger. In other words, they cannot tolerate anybody to overpower their imaginary world. For this reason even trained psychotherapist can have difficult times with such clients.