People love talking about narcissism. Perhaps it’s because every person has a few narcissistic traits tied to their ego or because all of us know someone who is a narcissist. However, before you label someone with this term, it’s important to understand that different types of narcissists function in a variety of manners.
All narcissists share the same core characteristics—a strong desire for control, lack of empathy, and entitlement. These characteristics are displayed through a range of behaviors that can vary according to the degree of danger and severity. Here are some common types of narcissism, according to behavioral health experts.
Healthy narcissism
It almost sounds like an oxymoron—is it possible to be a healthy narcissist? Someone can have narcissistic traits without having a narcissistic personality disorder. A person needs to match at least 55% of the list of common symptoms of NPD to be clinically diagnosed.
Many people have narcissistic traits without having the disorder itself. Healthy narcissism can be a positive trait—feeling proud of your accomplishments, sharing your accomplishments with others, and having a sense of entitlement where you believe you deserve good things is healthy for every human.
Covert narcissism
Covert narcissism, also known as vulnerable narcissism, is the opposite of what you’d imagine a ‘usual’ narcissist to be. These people are rather self-effacing, shy, distressed, and hypersensitive to criticism. They tend to crave recognition and might get extremely defensive of other people’s evaluations of them.
Cover narcissists are usually miserable, believing their suffering is much worse than those around them. While they might have been hurt at some point in their life, it’s important to draw boundaries and not try to rescue them by yourself.
Malignant narcissism
People with this type of narcissism tend to be malicious and manipulative, often showing signs of aggression and sadism. They’re part of one of the most severe narcissistic personality disorder sub-types.
This type of narcissist gets pleasure from other people’s discomfort. If you’re in close contact with a malignant narcissist, it’s best to avoid them.
Grandiose narcissism
This form of narcissism most closely resembles the broader view of a narcissist’s traits. Grandiosity is an unrealistic sense of being superior, and grandiose narcissism means that the person overestimates their abilities, asserts their dominance over other people, and has an inflated ego.
A grandiose narcissist’s traits are openly on display, sometimes at someone else’s expense. While they might be extremely charming, they are often unable or unwilling to empathize, causing significant pain to other people.
Get in touch with a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Will County
It can be difficult to remain in close relationships with narcissists. We understand how draining it is on your own mental health to not have your feelings considered by someone you care about. At Natobe Healthcare, our professional online psychiatrists, will help you discover better ways to cope and draw healthy boundaries with a narcissist in your life. We provide top-notch mental health and behavioral health services in Will County at affordable prices.
Schedule an appointment today to learn more.