NPS is characterized by arrogant, haughty and selfish behavior. It is important to stand up for yourself and sometimes you have to choose yourself not to be walked all over. Those who are self-confident usually also have a balanced outlook on life. However, when someone starts to show uber-human tendencies, considers themselves superior and looks down on others, they may have NPD.
Characteristics
According to the DSM IV, someone has a narcissistic personality disorder when they meet five or more of the following criteria.
- Exaggerates own achievements and talents, thinks he is great (übermensch tendencies)
- Expect others to put him on a pedestal
- Fantasizes about success, power, beauty and fame
- Considers himself special and unique and thinks he is only understood by similar people or people with a high status
- Demands excessive admiration
- Demands preferential treatment, special privileges, uses others for his purpose
- Lack of empathy, no consideration for others, disrespectful
- Envious and jealous, thinks others are too of him
- Behaves arrogantly and haughtily
General
Narcissistic personality disorder is estimated to affect 0.7 to 1 percent, more in men than in women (50 to 75 percent). In psychiatric institutions this percentage is 2 to 16 percent. People with NPD often have difficulty growing older and a midlife crisis is therefore common.
There are two extremes and most people with NPS fall somewhere in between. The overt or unconscious narcissist thinks he is great and suffers from delusions of grandeur. The sensitive or inhibited narc is burdened by a gigantic inferiority complex and therefore cannot tolerate criticism. To avoid this, they constantly pay attention to others.
By constantly comparing themselves to others, they always feel like they are falling short, which they then compensate with bragging and self-aggrandizement. Because they always want to be the best at everything, they cannot be happy for others, jealousy and envy are the most common emotions. They do not show sincere gratitude or regret, at most shame when they do not comply. Their lives revolve around how the outside world sees them, in possessions, doings and appearance.
Someone with NPS will not quickly seek out a care provider, after all, they are superior and can handle everything themselves. Only when, after admiration from those around them has been lacking for a long time (in other words, they have fallen through the basket and have not yet been able to find new victims), they have fallen into a depression, are they inclined to seek help for this.
Relationships with other people
People with NPS can often present themselves as charming and interesting, the first impression is almost always good. They are completely dependent on confirmation for their self-esteem, but they are completely unaffected by the feelings of the other person. After a while, their calculating and cold attitude starts to show and it becomes clear that everything is only about themselves. They demand preferential treatment and when they don’t get their way, they feel offended. They never see anything wrong with their own behavior, the blame always lies with someone else. The other person is seen as an object in any case, someone with NPS has no interest in others and a lack of empathy. When first introduced, someone with NPS may act very interested, but this is only an appearance, a means to an end.
Because they like to have power and can be ruthless, you often encounter them in high positions in business or politics. In this position they can cause a lot of problems.
Relationship with a partner
Someone with NPS can focus attention on the other person very well for a short period of time. Especially when they feel this is necessary to continue to be admired. They are very intuitive. However, once the partner reveals their own wants and needs, problems begin and relationships often end. Rejection and/or criticism are often met with anger. The partner is often alternately praised to the heavens and then bashed into the ground.
SPS compared to other personality disorders
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- NPS: inflated self-image
- BPD: impulsive and violent behavior
- Agreement: seeking attention from others
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPS)
- NPS: manipulation of others for personal gain
- ASPS: lying, unscrupulous and violent
- Similarity: little to no empathy and empathy