What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? [Video]

What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? [Transcript]

By now, most of us have heard the terms narcissism and narcissist tossed around in conversation. Maybe we’ve even used it on occasion to describe ourselves or others. Most often, making reference to someone who is extremely self-absorbed, selfish, self-centered, or self-important. The term itself comes from a character in Greek mythology called Narcissus. Narcissus was a young and handsome man who fell in love with his own reflection.

Narcissism itself exists on a spectrum and isn’t in itself a disorder. In its extreme, narcissism can become dysfunctional. This can happen when narcissistic personality traits cause problems in someone’s personal relationships, upset those around them, and end up interfering with their ability to achieve their personal goals.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder can only be diagnosed by a health care provider through a thorough clinical evaluation. According to the DSM-5, the manual that mental health professionals use to understand and diagnose mental health conditions, Narcissitic Personality Disorder involves a pervasive pattern of grandiosity – this can be in their mind OR carried out in their actual behavior, a need for admiration, and an impaired capacity for empathy. This pattern starts by early adulthood and it creates problems in most aspects of the person’s life – for instance, it could have a negative affect on someone at work, or at school, in their community or at home.

To be diagnosed with NPD, they will have five or more of the following characteristics:

A grandiose sense of self-importance

It’s that friend who thinks they are always the most important person in the room and you find yourself giving them all of your attention. 

Dreaming of unlimited power and success

A preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty. This is probably that person who is constantly name dropping and talks about their goal of becoming rich and famous.

The belief that they are “special” and unique

They believe that they can only be understood by and associate with, other special or high-status people. This is that person in your life who is rude to the wait staff when you are having dinner and always asks to speak to someone in charge.

A requirement for excessive admiration

They’re likely to be very friendly and pleasant as long as approval and praise are flowing to them, but may quickly become upset or even angry if you offer any criticism or lay down any kind of boundary with them. This might be that person you dated who you constantly had to validate and if you didn’t then you got into some type of an argument.

A sense of entitlement

They don’t believe rules or laws apply to them. This is that friend of yours who always wins game night by cheating.

Interpersonally exploitative

This means their primary motivation in forming relationships be based on how much the other person can do for them. This is someone in your life who is there until you benefit them and disappears as soon as you need them. 

An impaired sense of empathy concerning the feelings and needs of others

This is that person you may have dated who made you upset and is surprised when you are crying or feeling hurtnvious of others or believing that others are envious of them. They may consistently believe that others are jealous of their successes.

Showing arrogant or snobby behavior

They may come across as smug and usually having an attitude.

There is no known cure for Narcissistic Personality Disorder, but psychotherapy can be very useful in helping people living with NPD relate to themselves and others in healthier and more compassionate ways. 

Also, it is important for family members and loved ones to have support and information to help them cope with the effects of the disorder. 

Read more: 3 strategies for Setting Healthy Boundaries

If you would like to learn helpful suggestions and effective techniques for dealing with narcissistic traits and other difficult personalities watch our upcoming webinar “Are They A Narcissist?”: How to Understand Narcissistic Traits and Deal with Difficult people.