She says despite their negative traits, narcissists can often be very successful in the workplace. This is due to their charisma, extreme self-confidence, and willingness to take big risks.
According to a new study, people with an inflated sense of self-worth get ahead in life because they are mentally tough. Their “grandiosity, entitlement, dominance and superiority gives them motivation and confidence to take on life's challenges”, says the Daily Mail.
A question arises: Do narcissistic employees perform better? They certainly think they do, and they receive higher salaries, but a review of more than 200 studies indicates that narcissistic employees do not score any higher on job performance.
“The results from all the studies that we conducted show that grandiose narcissism correlates with very positive components of mental toughness, such as confidence and goal orientation, protecting against symptoms of depression and perceived stress,” says Papageorgiou.
Overachieving
Some narcissists have much to prove (to themselves and others), and may go out of their way to overachieve. They gravitate toward careers and endeavors which provide a sense of power, prestige, recognition, and/or material success.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, narcissists tend to be high achievers and very driven, because they believe that they need to be special and superior.
Narcissism is positively associated with self-assessed intelligence, but not objective intelligence.
As one told the Financial Times: “Narcissists gravitate towards professions where they can control people and elicit adulation. They are more likely to work in politics, finance, or medicine than in shoemaking.”
Here are some narcissism red flags to look out for: Lacking empathy. They seem unable or unwilling to have empathy for others, and they appear to have no desire for emotional intimacy. Unrealistic sense of entitlement.
Summary: For most people, narcissism wanes as they age. A new study reports the magnitude of the decline of narcissistic traits is tied to specific career and personal relationship choices. However, this is not true for everyone.
“Narcissistic parents beget kids with a whole host of psychological problems,” Durvasula says. These problems include higher than average rates of depression and anxiety, lack of self-regulation, eating disorders, low self-esteem, an impaired sense of self, substance abuse and perfectionism.
Forthcoming in the journal Psychological Bulletin, the study compiled 31 years of narcissism research and found that men consistently scored higher in narcissism across multiple generations and regardless of age.
It's certainly possible to have a relationship with a narcissist, but it's going to be emotionally and psychologically exhausting. Narcissists drain all the life and spirit from their partner, using them as an emotional — and sometimes literal — punching bag.
Although narcissists act superior, entitled and boastful, underneath their larger-than-life facade lies their greatest fear: That they are ordinary. For narcissists, attention is like oxygen. Narcissists believe only special people get attention.
Empaths are drawn to narcissists, and narcissists love taking advantage: "Since narcissists rely on exclusive focus and attention, an empathic person would naturally appeal to them," explains Dorfman.
The researchers claim that high intelligence among people leading to attainment of social status, autonomy and competence, which is a part of a narcissist personality. This research gave me a perspective on how major behavioral changes reflects on a person with high level of IQ within them.
The researchers found that while many narcissists may perceive themselves as highly intelligent, critical thinkers, they are less likely to use important reflective thinking strategies when solving problems, Therefore, the high levels of confidence they have in their intellectual abilities are often misplaced.
Individuals with high grandiose narcissism tend to think they are extraordinarily intelligent, and these views determine their psychological well-being.
Elizabeth Hinkle says that we often assume someone with narcissism is confident. But she says that's a misconception. “It's difficult to understand that people with narcissism deep down do not generally have positive feelings about themselves or healthy self-esteem.”
Narcissists can be charming, high-functioning professionals who leave you with a very positive first impression. They are often charismatic, hard-working, full of ideas, and able to infect others with their own enthusiasm.
In order to really succeed, though, narcissists also have to be competent, and have the humility to know when they need to adjust their behavior, Papageorgiou says. “An incompetent narcissist won't go far in the workplace or life,” he says. Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube!
Saad postulates that celebrities like Tom Cruise, Justin Bieber, the Kardashians, et al, were narcissists before they became famous. Narcissists seek, and some achieve, incredible fame because they desperately need the public adoration, hordes of fans, and obsequious entourages that go along with it.