Covert narcissism is also known as shy, vulnerable, or closet narcissism. People with this subtype tend not to outwardly demonstrate arrogance or entitlement. Instead, they might put themselves down and seem anxious about what others think of them, rather than exuding charm or confidence.
A sense of entitlement, lack of empathy and an expectation that others should treat them as if they are special or better than others, are all central traits of people with NPD. People with NPD tend to become significantly psychologically distressed when their exaggerated sense of self-worth is threatened in some way.
Mild: A mildly narcissistic person might be egotistical or boastful about their accomplishments but still function well in society.
Shallow emotions narcissists are unable to tolerate feelings of true sadness or guilt, or the strong emotions of others. Their comfort level is on the emotional surface.
It's normal and can even be a healthy personality trait, if it's mild and occasional. It's perfectly possible to feel or act a little narcissistic, even unpleasantly so, without having a disorder.
A thin-skinned narcissist's sense of grandiosity may crumble simply as a result of looking at them the wrong way. Thin-skinned narcissists may be more likely to seek professional NPD treatment for their problems, as it is not uncommon for them to develop depression or powerful feelings of hopelessness.
There's a lot of drama and fantasy in the life of the low-grade narcissist, often along with a sense of entitlement. “In a word, low-grade narcissistic people are often experienced as annoying,” Ramani says, contrasting them with malignant narcissists, and describing them as not fully-developed adults.
It's long been established that there are two types of narcissists: "vulnerable" ones, who have low self-esteem and crave affirmation, and "grandiose" ones, who have a genuinely overinflated sense of self.
They're often introverted, sensitive, and prone to experiencing anxiety and shame. They may also struggle to maintain close friendships as they focus heavily on themselves, require attention, and are hyper-sensitive to perceived criticism.
Cerebral Narcissist Traits
They hyperfocus on intellectual topics and go to great lengths to ensure others view them as the “smartest” in the room.
Covert narcissism is a subtler form of overt narcissism. But because it's subtle, covert narcissism can be a little more difficult to identify and manage.
“To what extent do you agree with this statement: 'I am a narcissist.'” Scientists believe that this question could be all researchers need to make a quick and easy diagnosis of narcissism.
People who are impressive in some way, either in their career, hobbies and talents, their friendship circles, or family. Someone who will make the narcissist feel good about themselves, through compliments or gestures. Anyone who will reflect well on them in the eyes of other people.
Malignant narcissists are often regarded as having the most extreme form of NPD, and while they will have the regular qualities of someone with narcissistic personality disorder, their self-absorption and self-obsession is accompanied by some darker behaviors as well.
Covert narcissism is also known as shy, vulnerable, or closet narcissism. People with this subtype tend not to outwardly demonstrate arrogance or entitlement. Instead, they might put themselves down and seem anxious about what others think of them, rather than exuding charm or confidence.
The answer as to whether a narcissist can change is, it's possible. A lot depends on their level of narcissism and if they are willing to put in the time and effort. Someone who is on the lower end of the spectrum is more likely to change than someone who has full-blown narcissistic personality disorder.
Symptoms Of An Aging Narcissist
Inflated sense of self-importance. Need for constant admiration and attention. Lack of empathy for others. Tendency to take advantage of others.
Healthy narcissists exhibit self-confidence, empathy, and an objective view of their talents and accomplishments. Unlike typical narcissists, those with healthy narcissism do not exploit others to fulfill their needs, and possessing traits associated with this can actually be helpful.
In fact, narcissists are often attracted to strong, confident, and self-assured women. While this may seem counterintuitive, it is important to realize that the narcissistic traits of grandiosity and confidence are really a mask for deep insecurity.
Generally, narcissists are very frugal with their money and defensive with it. When it comes to their possessions, they don't give them freely. There is, however, more to this greed than self-preservation. Due to their lack of empathy, narcissists may not understand the benefits of sharing their resources.
They have a sense of entitlement and expect favorable treatment. They take advantage of others to achieve their goals. They lack empathy and don't try to identify with the needs of others. They envy others or believe others envy them.
Many narcissists are obsessive-compulsive as well. They conduct daily "rituals", they are overly punctilious, they do things in a certain order, and adhere to numerous "laws", "principles", and "rules". They have rigid and oft-repeated opinions, uncompromising rules of conduct, unalterable views and judgments.