From an exaggerated sense of self-importance to a noticeable absence of empathy, these traits provide a comprehensive guide for identifying and grappling with the nuances of this complex personality trait.
Exaggerated Sense of Self-Importance
The most unmistakable sign of a narcissist is an inflated sense of self-worth. The problem with most narcissists is they have very little self-awareness and therefore it’s hard for them to ever acknowledge the fact they overestimate themselves.
However, if you consistently believe that you’re superior to others, there is a good chance that you are a narcissist. Regular people understand that they don’t deserve special treatment and don’t need to always talk about their achievements.
A true narcissist is one that thinks they are uniquely gifted when they don’t have any special talents at all.
Constant Need for Admiration
Narcissists thrive on constant validation and attention. If you’re the type to constantly crave people giving you compliments, then it’s not a great sign.
This isn’t to be confused with people craving admiration because they doubt themselves and are insecure. Instead of boosting their self-esteem, narcissists want compliments to confirm what they think they already know.
This insatiable need for admiration can strain relationships, as others may find it exhausting to continually cater to your ego.
Lack of Empathy
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in other people’s shoes and understand their pain. If you’re a narcissist, you won’t have this ability and instead you’ll be blind to the needs of others.
If you constantly disregard the feelings of people around you, then you could well be a narcissist. Normal people are able to connect with people on an emotional level. They understand their pain and can see things from their point of view.
Exploitative Behavior
A narcissist will often see a relationship as purely transactional. That means they’ll only be interested in a friendship or a relationship if they are able to get something from it.
It gets worse as well. A narcissist will often be manipulative towards people who are friendly to them without a care of how it affects them. As long as they are getting what they want from the transaction, they won’t care.
If you’re often accused of exploiting others for your own personal gain, then you may well be a narcissist.
Jealousy and Envy
Narcissists will think that the world revolves around them. Due to this, they can become deeply envious of the success of others as they think they should be getting the attention.
They never want to feel inferior and will struggle if made to feel this way. Instead of being happy for the success of others, they will work to find ways to either belittle or undermine their success to try and protect their own self-esteem.
If you find yourself struggling to celebrate the success of friends or family, you have a problem.
Fantasies of Unlimited Success, Power, and Beauty
Another aspect of their personality is they’ll have grandiose fantasies of success, even if the reality is something very different. They’ll often love the idea of being famous, wealthy, or even having the perfect appearance.
While having goals is healthy, narcissists will take it to the next level. Their goals will often be delusional instead of achievable. This comes down to their inflated sense of self-worth.
Difficulty Accepting Criticism
Constructive criticism is important for personal growth. It helps us to understand where we’re going wrong and improve. Narcissists don’t see it like that. They will often become defensive or even dismissive of any negativity.
At its worse, they can become aggressive when they are faced with feedback that challenges their self-image. If you respond to criticism in a hostile manner, that’s another tick in the narcissism box.
Sense of Entitlement
A narcissist will often believe they are entitled to special treatment. That can include relationships, work or even in social situations. This will often mean they’ll have unreasonable and unrealistic expectations on how people will act towards them.
A narcissist wants to be treated better than everyone else because they think they’re better than everyone else.
Difficulty Maintaining Meaningful Relationships
A healthy relationship is one that is built on a level of mutual respect and being considerate of boundaries. Narcissists disregard the boundaries of others and think their desires are the most important.
This can put a lot of strain on relationships. A narcissist is self-centered and doesn’t have the ability to make meaningful connections. If your relationships are all quickly ending due to your inconsiderate behavior, it’s another sign of narcissism.
You’re Not Reading This Article
What’s that? Yes, you’ve read it correctly. If you’re a narcissist then you probably won’t be worried about being a narcissist. In fact, you won’t even consider the prospect that you’re a narcissist, as you’ll think all your behaviors are correct.
So if you’re reading this, you’re not a narcissist. However, if you’re ticking a lot of the boxes above, then it means you need to work on your personal development. Try to be more empathetic and understand different points of view.