Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a behavioral disorder characterized by a high sense of self-worth, expectations of superior treatment and attention, arrogance and lack of empathy. NPD is far more common in men than it is in women. Individuals with this personality disorder believe they are entitled to and will receive material wealth and personal fulfillment no matter what their efforts. In fact, most individuals with this personality disorder make up the majority of the upper class in the corporate or business world, as well as dominating politics, the sports industry, and social media. Today, NPD is one of the most studied and renowned personality disorders, with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and dependent personality disorder, in the world, and many individuals have these common personality disorders.
4 Main Types of Narcissism
Although the 4 types of narcissism are not all officially recognized yet in the DSM-5, here are the different types that are identified:
- Overt Narcissism, also known as 'Classic Narcissism' or 'Grandiose Narcissism', is characterized as an overt narcissist being loud, obnoxious, snobbish, and insensitive to the needs of others and an overt narcissist is always demanding positive compliments about one's self. An overt narcissist wants to be treated as a king or queen in the world. This type of narcissism is the main representation of narcissistic personality disorder.
- Covert Narcissism, also known as 'Vulnerable Narcissism' or 'Closeted Narcissism', is the more introverted version of overt narcissism. A few borderline personality disorder traits, such as inappropriate anger, hatred, and mood swings, being added to the mix of narcissism, can result in covert narcissism. A covert narcissist is described as someone who is a snake in the grass or a covert narcissist who wants to be treated as the most intelligent bookworm in the world. A covert narcissist poses as being nice, charming, distant, introverted, and friendly to strangers. Behind close doors, however, a covert narcissist will turn hostile towards a few people, once a covert narcissist is acknowledged and trusted by those who are closest to one's self or toward one's siblings in the household. Many people, mainly highly empathic, emotionless ones who lack social cues or highly empathic, anxious ones who are socially inept, have fallen victims to the abuse of a covert narcissist without realizing what has happened, until they are already in emotional pain, earning themselves PTSD and depression. Once victims of a covert narcissist call out on their predator's abusive behavior, they will be given the silent treatment by a covert narcissist and they will get cut off entirely by a covert narcissist out of one's life. A covert narcissist may likely be withdrawn in one's approach by preying on victims one-by-one at a time as sufficient energy supply with a higher chance of success, apart from an overt narcissist who preys on a group of victims at a time with a higher chance of failure. In other words, a covert narcissist is more difficult to detect than an overt narcissist. Regardless, the end goals of both narcissists are the same.
- Somatic Narcissism is the sexual version of narcissistic personality disorder. Somatic narcissism is classified as someone who wants to look better than everyone else by being attractive, such as wearing a dress, having a shiny smile, having a muscular body or curvy body, wearing perfume or cologne, having smooth and straight hair, and having an appealing face. A somatic narcissist controls one's exercise routines and eating habits to stay physically fit, since a somatic narcissist needs others to admire one's appearance. Otherwise, a somatic narcissist will be very insecure by assuming that one is not attractive enough to others. A few histrionic personality disorder traits, like seductiveness and egoism, being added to the mix of narcissism, can result in somatic narcissism.
- Malignant Narcissism is the most dangerous form of narcissistic personality disorder. A malignant narcissist is the type of narcissist who will hire assassins to target, shoot, and obliterate one's victims directly for revenge or out of being discriminatory towards minorities. A malignant narcissist wants to be treated as a god or a goddess in the world. A malignant narcissist is not to be confused with an overt narcissist, in spite of both of these narcissists being loud, obnoxious, arrogant, and immoral to others. A malignant narcissist is basically a political dictator, who enjoys deceiving and controlling others to give death threats to their victims to end their lives right away or to gang up against their victims to exterminate them for being 'abnormal' and 'inferior' to a malignant narcissist or going against a narcissist's authority. A few antisocial personality disorder traits, like robbery and homicidal tendencies, being added to the mix of narcissism, can result in malignant narcissism.
Comorbidity
The following conditions commonly coexist with NPD:
- Spoiled Child Syndrome
- Antisocial personality disorder (AsPD)
- Sadistic personality disorder (SPD)
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Histrionic personality disorder (HPD)
- Paranoid personality disorder (PPD)
- Voyeurism
- Alcohol use disorder
- Anthropophobia
- Gynophobia
- Ablephobia
- Homophobia
- Xenophobia
- Obsessive complaining disorder
- Pedophilic disorder