What is narcissism?
'Narcissism' is one of the most overused and misunderstood concepts in all of psychology, right up there alongside“gaslighting” and “ADHD.”
So, what exactly is it?
‘Narcissism’ refers to a collection of personality traits that exist on a spectrum and broadly describes an excessive focus on oneself and prioritisation of one's needs, typically at others’ expense.
That word ‘spectrum’ is key. We all display traits that collectively determine where someone falls on the spectrum of narcissism, ranging from healthy to clinically pathological (i.e., narcissistic personality disorder).
What are narcissistic traits?
Some time ago, researchers explored the underlying character traits of narcissism (1).
They found that narcissism typically comprises of:
- Agentic Extraversion: Characterised by a grandiose sense of self and need for admiration
- Narcissistic Neuroticism: Characterised by difficulties regulating one’s emotions
- Self-Centred Antagonism: Characterised by a willingness to exploit others for personal gain, a sense of entitlement, and a lack of empathy
The two forms of narcissism
Moreover, these researchers also revealed that not all expressions of narcissism are created equal.
They discovered that differences in the aforementioned traits give rise to two different forms of narcissism:
- Grandiose Narcissism: Characterised, in part, by inflated self-esteem, high sociability and assertiveness, and low modesty
- Vulnerable Narcissism: Characterised, in part, by low self-esteem, a strong tendency to experience negative emotions (such as anxiety, depression, and anger), and a dependence on others for emotional validation
What this means: Not every narcissist believes they are better than everyone else. In the case of someone who presents with vulnerable narcissism, their excessive focus on themself may be an unconscious attempt to shield their crippling low self-esteem.
References
- Crowe, M. L., Lynam, D. R., Campbell, W. K., & Miller, J. D. (2019). Exploring the structure of narcissism: Toward an integrated solution. Journal of Personality, 87(6), 1151-1169. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12464