An Explanation of the Diagnostic Criteria of Narcissism (Narcissistic Personality Disorder / NPD)
In order to be considered a narcissist, someone has to meet five or more of the nine criteria listed in the DSM-V. The symptoms have to be pervasive (present in a wide variety of contexts) and clinically distressing.
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g. exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
Exaggerating your own achievements
Criticizing and dismissing others’ achievements or talents
Constantly boasting or talking about yourself
Believing yourself to be infallible or invulnerable
Believing that you are more intelligent than others
Thinking that common rules don’t apply to you
Acting selfishly
Treating others with disdain or contempt
Not caring if you hurt someone with your actions
Being quick to anger if you’re challenged
Being unable to see how your behavior affects others
Being unable to see how unrealistic your beliefs and actions are
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
Often make up stories where you are the main character or are better than everyone else
Often imagine yourself in positions of power
May often imagine yourself in ways that distract from emptiness and unstable emotions (such as powerful, in control, beautiful, knowledgeable)
Fantasies of winning awards
Fantasies of being praised for your perfect work
Fantasies of getting the ideal partner and having a perfect relationship
3. Believes that they are “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
Only choosing services you consider “the best” (e.g. fly first class, stay in five-star hotels, and eat at top restaurants)
Purchasing only name brand items or items that you deem are “the best”
Insisting on seeing prestigious specialists, even for minor health concerns
Seeking out friendships with people you deem worthy and ignoring anyone else (potentially also believing that the person you’re friends with should be grateful that they were chosen)
Dating only people they deem “the best”
4. Requires excessive admiration.
Expect others to admire your style, looks, or abilities
Feeling enraged when you don’t receive praise for accomplishments
Hint to others for compliments if they aren’t offered automatically
Spending a lot of time wondering how others perceive you
Do things specifically to earn praise
5. Has a sense of entitlement (i.e. unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with their expectations).
Expecting to get certain things just because you exist or with no specific justification (such as special access to certain areas or items of clothing)
Believes that you and your needs come before everyone else’s
Believing that since you work harder and do a better job than everyone else, you should get to set your own schedule
Believing that everyone should cater to you
6. Interpersonally exploitative (i.e. takes advantage of others to achieve their own ends).
Putting yourself down so others recognize your abilities or talents
Insisting that others help and support you before taking care of themselves
Complimenting someone just to receive praise back
Failing to realize when you’ve made unrealistic demands of others
Treating people unkindly when they’re unwilling to do things for you
Lying or deceiving others to get your needs met
7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
Focusing on your own problems and feelings without realizing that others have important needs, too
Expect others to put you first
Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings and experiences
Have little interest in other people’s difficulties
Consider expressing feelings a sign of weakness
Avoid doing things for others unless it benefits you
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of them.
You may envy people who are getting praise and attention for their achievements and talents
You may believe that others envy you and your abilities
You may assume that others are working behind your back to steal the opportunities you deserve
You may feel uneasy or upset if someone you are close to is given attention by someone else
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
A “high and mighty” attitude or snobbishness
Contempt for people who make mistakes
Scorn for those who don’t recognize your superiority
A tendency to patronize “ordinary” people
Aggressive or sharp responses to perceived criticism
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Sources:
Grandiosity: (Source 1) (Source 2)
Other Symptoms: (Source)
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I don’t think you have npd, don’t sell yourself short
You seem really sweet/gen/pos :)
i mean these with all my heart, fuck you
you have no idea who i am, i purposely try to be nicer on tumblr. you have no idea who i am as a person or have a right to say what i do and don’t have
“you seem so sweet” i have gone through years of therapy to work on myself. you think i say i have npd because it’s cute and quirky? My npd is a product of my poor childhood, you clearly have no idea what npd even is
you think i want to have npd? i don’t, i use to be so sweet and kind and i mourn being that person.
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