Narcissistic personality disorder can exist on its own but can also co-occur with borderline personality disorder. It's vital to understand the BPD and NPD relationship because some of the symptoms of both disorders overlap.
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is 1 of the 4 cluster B personality disorders, which also include antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), and histrionic personality disorder (HPD).
NPD may also be comorbid or differentiated with the occurrence of other mental disorders, including histrionic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or paranoid personality disorder.
People with type A personalities attract narcissists, but a relationship between the two is a recipe for disaster. Narcissists know exactly who to target. Often they go after people with high levels of empathy.
Narcissists are attracted to people with Cluster B personality disorder traits because they are easy to control and manipulate. Narcissists often use gaslighting, manipulation, and intimidation to control their victims. They may also use their victim's vulnerabilities against them.
Narcissists' Greatest Fear
To narcissists, ordinary people (i.e., nearly everybody around them) aren't worthy of attention, so being ordinary would leave them unworthy of the spotlight and left to suffocate. Narcissists also need to feel special and superior to others.
Narcissistic personality disorder can exist on its own but can also co-occur with borderline personality disorder. It's vital to understand the BPD and NPD relationship because some of the symptoms of both disorders overlap.
Highly empathetic
Individuals who have a high level of empathy are extremely appealing to narcissists because narcissists crave acknowledgment and validation for their thoughts and feelings (clinically, being "mirrored").
Malignant narcissism is a psychological syndrome comprising an extreme mix of narcissism, antisocial behavior, aggression, and sadism.
In fact, narcissists are often attracted to strong, confident, and self-assured women.
Recap. Some people with bipolar disorder display narcissistic traits during manic episodes. The two conditions also have some overlapping symptoms. Very few people have both bipolar and narcissistic personality disorder, though.
Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are part of the same cluster, which includes disorders characterized by heightened emotions and dramatic or unpredictable behaviors.
There are significant gender differences when it comes to the prevalence of the disorder; about 75% of people with narcissistic personality disorder are men.
“To what extent do you agree with this statement: 'I am a narcissist.'”
They are hypocritical. Narcissism and hypocrisy go hand in hand because hypocrisy is a form of entitlement. Most narcissists believe the rules don't apply to them, even though they are quick to enforce them on everyone else. This goes for many types of rules, including budgets.
Beyond this level is pathological narcissism, a variant that also includes elements of psychopathy and is particularly harmful to those in relationships with such individuals. People with its most extreme form, known as “malignant narcissism,” can become even more threatening to your safety and well-being.
The cause is likely complex. Narcissistic personality disorder may be linked to: Environment — parent-child relationships with either too much adoration or too much criticism that don't match the child's actual experiences and achievements. Genetics — inherited characteristics, such as certain personality traits.
Cerebral Narcissist Traits
They hyperfocus on intellectual topics and go to great lengths to ensure others view them as the “smartest” in the room. Some defining traits of NPD in general include: Lack of empathy. Sense of entitlement.
For a narcissist to be happy, you'll always have to accept their version of events as the truth. Otherwise, you'll be on the receiving end of their narcissistic rage. Even if you do everything they ask, a narcissist will still try and undermine you at every opportunity.
Narcissistic parents are often emotionally abusive to their children, holding them to impossible and constantly changing expectations. Those with narcissistic personality disorder are highly sensitive and defensive. They tend to lack self-awareness and empathy for other people, including their own children.
Attention-seeking behavior—positive or negative—is essentially narcissistic supply. Wanting attention, accolades, and validation are not inherently narcissistic. We all need to feel heard and accepted, but narcissists crave this attention constantly.
The most official of the narcissism tests, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), is commonly used to determine if someone displays narcissistic behaviors.
Furthermore, the Borderline individual's tendency to project unacceptable aspects of their own character onto those around them will eventually shatter the perfect image they have of the Narcissistic partner, whom they then devalue and attack.
A monumental weakness in the narcissist is the failure to look internally and flesh out what needs to be worked on. Then, of course, the next step is to spend time improving. The narcissist sabotages any possibility of looking deep within.