Narcissism is defined as extreme self-love. An individual who is narcissistic craves admiration and has a preoccupation with receiving attention. Such persons can be self-promoting, express themselves in grandiose terms, lack empathy, yet be vulnerable to shame and disappointment. They may also exhibit a strong sense of entitlement, little to no regard for the feelings of others and an exaggerated sense of self-importance. A narcissistic personality is more common in men than women, with roughly 75 percent of narcissists being men. Not all narcissists will display the same behaviors, but there are some common characteristics of someone who is narcissistic.
Perceived Grandiosity
A narcissistic individual has an exaggerated sense of self. This is evident sometimes in their behavior. Narcissistic people tend to overrate the significance of their achievements and talents. With this over-ranking of their attributes comes the expectation that they should receive awards or accolades for their accomplishments. They see themselves as special individuals who are only worthy of similar special people.
Lack of Empathy
A narcissistic individual has little or no empathy for the feelings or plight of others. They often exploit family members, friends or acquaintances to meet their own desires. They tend to have an arrogant aura about themselves and view others as being envious of them. Narcissists dominate conversations and have little to no interest in another's life, interests or problems. Although the narcissist does not appear to be interested in others, he or she is quite good at reading or interpreting others personalities for the purpose of manipulating or controlling others for his or her gain. The narcissist will express little regret or remorse for any mistakes made and usually has little regard for the consequences of his actions.
Fragile Sense of Self-Esteem
Most researchers and clinicians believe that people with narcissistic personality disorders have a very fragile sense of self-esteem beneath all their grandiosity. This is evidenced by their preoccupation with what others think, why they exhibit such a need for admiration and their obsession or fantasizing about their perceived outstanding achievements. Despite their proclamation of self-accolades, the narcissist has a fear of being shamed or criticized or being disappointed. The individual's continued grandiose expression of self offers protection from these fears, thus continuing a cycle of narcissism.
Those with narcissistic personality disorders generally do not seek treatment since they view themselves as near-perfect and see no need for change. Usually it is the insistence of a spouse or another person that propels the individual into treatment.
