Narcissists can appear to love pretty much anything, dogs included, but they don't really love something for its own sake. What they love is what the person (animal, thing) gets them.
People and animals are both expected to act perfectly—and anything else is seen as a personal affront to the narcissist. They expect people and animals to fill their deep-seated insecurities—and the narcissist is never able to have that deep hole in their psyche filled. They physically abuse pets.
Although empathy for animals and humans is certainly related, it is possible for pet owners with narcissistic traits, particularly Narcissistic Neuroticism, to have empathy and love for a pet despite having low empathy for humans.
And there are many narcissists who really don't care for pets. A narcissist isn't usually one to take care of others, and there's no way around this with a pet. So if someone is particularly high on the narcissistic spectrum, they may really want to avoid pets, regardless of the adoration they might get.
Individuals high in Narcissistic Neuroticism may empathize with animals to a greater extent than they empathize with humans and may use their pet as a means of regulating their negative emotions and controlling their insecurities.
Narcissism and the Animal World
There was a variety of opinions but the most common answer was “the cat.” That is an understandable answer. Cats show very little care about people, or even in other cats. They typically seem unconcerned about whether others are happy with them.
Low self-worth/confidence/esteem is at the core of a narcissism. This low sense of self naturally makes it extremely easy for them to become jealous – very jealous. And not just about anyone potentially interested in you romantically, but anyone or anything that can take the focus off of them.
It is because of this that they may find it difficult to understand other people's feelings or perspectives, a self-centredness that can cause them to act selfishly and exploit others for their own gain. “As narcissists do not have empathy, they are not able to genuinely care or love you,” explains Davey.
Some narcissists may have healthy, loving relationships with their mothers, but many will struggle due to their narcissistic character traits. The narcissist's need for admiration and validation means they will often put unrealistic demands on their mothers, while their need for control makes them manipulative.
Fame. Being a good person, or rather appearing as one publicly, can generate fame and boost a narcissists public image. Since narcissists are very interested in social status and influence, they use acts of generosity to appear noble and kind. Some examples of this are narcissists who donate their money, goods, or time ...
Most narcissists enjoy an irrational and brief burst of relief after having suffered emotionally ("narcissistic injury") or after having sustained a loss. It is a sense of freedom, which comes with being unshackled.
They look for people who are confident, successful, attractive and strong-willed. Someone who possess these traits makes them look better and makes others envious that they are with you. They also want to tear you down.
A dog will react according to their environment and stimuli within it, they do not have special powers to detect personality disorders.
They are cruel.
Unfortunately, people get away with abusing and mistreating animals more easily than they can with people. Many narcissists take advantage of this. These are the people who come home and kick the dog because they had a bad day at work.
Some narcissists like to cuddle. Others don't. But in nearly all cases, cuddling is just another way to fuel the never-ending narcissistic supply. Narcissists struggle to be genuinely intimate with their partners.
They play favorites.
Narcissistic parents maintain their power by triangulating, or playing favorites. They may have a golden child who they compliment excessively, for example, while speaking badly about another child in the family.
Studies have shown that the permissive parenting style is most likely to foster narcissism in a child. Permissive parents are often overly indulgent and provide too much praise, failing to set limits or provide structure for their kids.
Feeling respected is important in relationships. New research examines the link between narcissism and respecting one's partner. Narcissists who inflate their own self-view by enjoying others' failures tend not to give their partners enough respect.
The best way to know if a narcissist loves you is by looking at their behavior over time rather than just relying on words or expressions of affection. If they are consistently putting your needs first, even when it doesn't directly benefit them, then it may be possible that they truly care for you.
Narcissists use sex and the pretence of emotion to control others. They like to be in control, and often derive pleasure from giving or withdrawing sex or affection to this end. 10. Narcissists are not really capable of feeling guilty, and feel no shame about lying if they think that it will get them what they want.
Narcissist Lies Often Turn Into Gaslighting
For the NPD, the lies are often a prelude to gaslighting. Gaslighting is a psychological weapon used by some to keep a person emotionally off-balance. When they lie to the person's face about what may have occurred, they cause the victim to question their own sanity.
One clear sign of insecurity is when they tell stories about themselves doing amazing things or meeting famous people. A story like this can be used to show off their achievements and impress others around them. These grandiose fantasies are a way for the narcissist to feel important or special.
The narcissist chooses to marry the person they believe they can have the most control over. This isn't meant to victim blame and to say the partner or spouse has done anything wrong. The narcissist knows that other people are caring and want to please, so they look for people that have these qualities.