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Recognising the Signs of Narcissistic Behaviour

Narcissism is a condition where a person has an unreasonably high sense of their own importance and a tendency to ignore the needs and feelings of others. While many people show narcissistic tendencies, like bragging or self-centeredness, there are more severe signs that classify someone as a narcissist. 

Narcissists have more severe and frequent symptoms, however, not every narcissist has narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). While it’s become a bit of a buzzword, narcissism is a spectrum – people can display narcissistic tendencies, but those with NPD will display more severe and consistent symptoms.

Recognising the signs of narcissist behaviour can help if you suspect that you or someone you know may have narcissistic traits. Here’s a breakdown of what narcissism is and how narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is diagnosed and treated. 

 

What is a narcissist?      

The term ‘narcissist’ is often used to describe someone with an over-inflated sense of self or an unhealthy arrogance that can be off-putting for others. And while these may be signs of narcissistic behaviour, it’s important to distinguish that narcissism is a recognised personality disorder known as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).

Individuals diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) may experience the effects of the disorder in different areas of their lives. In particular, those with NPD are more likely to struggle with developing lasting interpersonal relationships. 

The study of narcissism and narcissistic behaviour is an ongoing field of research. It is believed that narcissistic personality disorder can stem from a number of different environmental and inherited factors, including:

Parental relationships: children of parents with NPD may be more predisposed to narcissistic personality traits. While there is no direct link between genetics and NPD, a lived childhood experience involving one or more parents with NPD can encourage similar behaviours to develop.

Personality: individual personality characteristics and self-image play an important role in determining NPD cases.

Family relationships: it’s believed that family relationships – particularly those with parents and siblings, can play an important role.

Childhood trauma: traumatic childhood experiences may be a factor in the development of narcissistic personality traits. 

 

Common signs of narcissistic behaviour

signs of narcissistic personality disorder

Grandiose sense of self

Grandiosity is an unrealistic sense of superiority. To have a grandiose sense of self, an individual believes they are unique and special, and often only associates with other people they also see as “special”.

Arrogance

In line with grandiosity, arrogance in narcissistic behaviours can look like an unwavering belief that an individual is better than everyone else. Those with this trait often adopt a condescending tone and demeanor towards other people that implies their superiority.

Entitlement

Individuals with narcissistic traits often believe they are entitled to get what they want at all times. They may expect praising treatment from the people around them and will be offended if they don’t receive this treatment.

Lack of empathy

People with narcissistic behaviours are often unwilling to empathise with another person. These dysfunctional and conditional responses to empathy can stem from vulnerability and self-protection limits.

Envious of others

Rooted in the need for validation and view of superiority from others, narcissistic people are often envious of other people and may actively put others down to boost their own self-esteem.

Need to be admired

The need to be admired refers to the attention, validation, and power individuals with NPD seek from others to feel important and feed their sense of entitlement.

Exploits others without guilt

Narcissistic people don’t tend to identify other people’s feelings or think about how their behaviour affects them. They may treat the people in their life as objects and take advantage of others to achieve their own personal needs without guilt.

Delusional

A person’s pattern of self-centeredness and firm belief in their superiority can often come across as delusional. Some forms of delusion in people with narcissistic behaviour include grandiosity, jealousy, or paranoia.

 

Diagnosing narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) 

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is diagnosed by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, through clinical assessment and conversational therapy. 

Diagnosing NPD involves discussing the person’s life and relationships, including their interactions with family, friends, and others close to them. 

It can be difficult to diagnose narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), as no lab or imaging tests can prove NPD and many symptoms overlap with other disorders. In accordance with SANE Australia, a person must experience at least 5 of the 9 symptoms of NPD before receiving a diagnosis. 

can narcissistic personality disorder be cured

 

Is there a cure for narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health disorder with no ‘cure’ – however, NPD can be managed with therapy and by working with a professional like a psychologist or psychiatrist. 

As there is no proven medication or therapy to treat narcissistic personality disorder, the expert diagnosing the disorder will generally recommend an appropriate approach to counselling or therapy, including: 

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CPT)
  • Metacognitive therapy 
  • Group therapy 
  • Couples or family therapy 

Through these counselling and therapy approaches, the therapist or psychologist will get to know the individual and build a trusting relationship. The aim of these sessions is for the person experiencing NPD-related symptoms to develop a more realistic self-image and view others in a more positive way. 

Addressing related conditions like anxiety or depression can help ease some NPD symptoms. With prescribed medication, some narcissistic symptoms that are heightened by related mental health conditions, can be reduced. 

If you or someone you know exhibits persistent difficulties in relationships or struggles with traits like lack of empathy or entitlement, a mental health professional can help determine if narcissistic personality disorder is a factor. 

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