Narcissistic Personality Disorder: What Is It, Characteristics, How Is It Recognized?

Narcissistic personality disorder is one of several personality disorders.

Narcissistic personality disorder is one of several personality disorders. This disorder, which holds significant importance among psychiatric disorders, generally manifests as an exaggerated sense of self-importance in individuals. This condition leads to inflated emotions and a perception of superiority over others. While feelings of self-admiration can occur in anyone from time to time, in narcissistic individuals, this feeling is persistent, extreme, and accompanied by a constant need for external validation or admiration. Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition that negatively affects work, school, and personal life, and it requires management. It is a disorder that can be controlled through talk therapies and certain lifestyle changes.

What Is Narcissism?

Narcissistic personality disorder is a self-centered mindset that can occasionally be observed in everyone. Individuals who adopt the narcissistic thought pattern and reflect it in their behavior are called narcissists. People with narcissistic personality disorder have a high need for attention and desire admiration from others. Many individuals with narcissistic personality disorder can continue their lives normally. However, they generally perceive themselves as superior, important, and special. The source of this feeling of superiority is sometimes attributed to their physical attributes and sometimes to their intelligence. They may struggle to understand the feelings of those they communicate with and may react excessively to criticism. Despite projecting an image of great self-confidence, they may have a low sense of self-worth and security. This situation is known as narcissistic injury in psychiatry and can lead to intermittent outbursts of anger. Because their moods can change rapidly during conflicts, and they consider themselves justified while failing to understand or take seriously the feelings of those around them, they may struggle to maintain their relationships.

What Causes Narcissism?

Narcissistic personality disorder affects men more than women and typically emerges during adolescence or young adulthood. Although it can also be common in childhood, it does not mean that every child will continue to exhibit narcissistic behaviors later in life. The exact cause of narcissism is generally indeterminate and often arises from complex factors. However, a profound sense of deficiency and inadequacy underlies narcissism. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder exhibit narcissistic feelings and behaviors to conceal this deficiency and not reveal it outwardly. Factors ranging from genetic predisposition to upbringing errors can contribute to this condition. Research has shown that narcissistic personality disorder can result from parenting approaches that are overly protective or filled with excessive praise. Conversely, narcissism can also emerge in individuals who have experienced neglect or abuse during childhood. In such cases, narcissism may arise from a strong instinct to exist powerfully in life. Some general causes of narcissism include:

• Genetic Predisposition: Genetic predisposition refers to the hereditary passing of specific personality traits. However, genetic predispositions do not manifest when not supported by the social environment. Genetic predisposition is one of the least influential factors in narcissism.
• Environment: The situation where an individual's achievements and abilities are excessively praised and exaggerated by their surroundings, or where they face excessive criticism when they fail or make mistakes, can lead to narcissism.
• Neurobiology: In psychiatric science, neurobiology refers to the connection between the brain and behavior/thought. Narcissism may emerge from disruptions in the connection between the brain and behavior/thought.

How Is Narcissism Diagnosed?

Narcissistic personality disorder may exhibit similar characteristics to other personality disorders. When diagnosing, evaluations are made regarding how long the symptoms have persisted, how they affect life, and whether there are environmental triggers. There is no laboratory test that definitively diagnoses narcissistic personality disorder. However, most psychiatrists or psychologists refer to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" as a guideline. Some criteria listed in this manual are checked to assist in the diagnosis. Some of these criteria include:

• An exaggerated sense of self-importance
• A constant need for admiration and praise
• Expecting special attention in line with perceived superiority
• Exaggerating achievements and talents
• Refusal to accept criticism and providing negative reactions
• Grandiose thoughts related to power, success, fame, and physical attributes
• Exploiting others
• Ignoring or being uninterested in the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of others
• Displaying arrogant behaviors

What Are the Symptoms Associated with Narcissism?

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by an excessive sense of self-admiration and a belief in one's own importance, along with a tendency to view others as inferior. However, narcissism can also present with various other symptoms in addition to these traits. Some of the symptoms commonly associated with narcissism include:

• Placing excessive importance on oneself and seeking admiration
• Behaving arrogantly and constantly praising oneself
• Looking down on others and viewing them as inferior
• Expecting privilege and special treatment in social situations
• Anticipating continuous praise even without any accomplishments
• Living in a fantasy world regarding success, power, fame, and finding a perfect partner
• Believing that one is only worthy of interacting with high-status individuals
• Criticizing and belittling those deemed unimportant
• Expecting selfless favors from others and wanting wishes to be fulfilled without question
• Using people as stepping stones to get what one wants
• Believing that others envy them while harboring jealousy toward others
• Thinking that they deserve only the best and most beautiful things

Once the healthcare professional assesses whether individuals exhibit the aforementioned criteria, they may employ various tests or methods if necessary. A definitive diagnosis and the most suitable treatment method for the individual can be determined following psychiatric evaluations.

Narcissism Treatment

There is no cure for narcissistic personality disorder, but supportive treatments can be provided. The foundation of the therapeutic approach is based on talk therapy. However, if conditions such as depression or anxiety accompany the disorder, medication may also be prescribed as needed. Substance abuse may sometimes be observed in individuals with narcissistic personality disorder. In such cases, alongside therapy, treatment for alcoholism and substance dependence may also be implemented. Treatment for narcissism is generally conducted as follows:

Talk Therapy

Talk therapy is the most effective method for treating narcissism. Therapies are conducted in a psychiatric clinic by a psychologist or psychiatrist. The main goal of talk therapies is to eliminate the underlying weak sense of self and inferiority complex, helping individuals to experience realistic feelings. Another aim of psychotherapy is to teach the importance of recognizing the feelings and thoughts of others and developing empathy. Some benefits of talk therapy for individuals include:

• Recognizing strengths and weaknesses
• Maintaining personal relationships
• Tolerating criticism and failures
• Coping with any sense of self
• Collaborating with colleagues or classmates
• Setting achievable goals instead of unrealistic ones
• Acknowledging problematic behaviors and allowing time for recovery

Lifestyle Changes

Narcissistic personality disorder requires certain lifestyle changes in addition to talk therapy. These changes can enhance the effectiveness of therapies and provide long-term benefits during the process of personality reconstruction. Some suggested lifestyle changes include:

• Avoiding substances that may trigger problematic behaviors
• Establishing and maintaining healthy habits
• Engaging in activities such as sports, yoga, and meditation to help reduce stress and anxiety
• Being open to support from family members and close friends while distancing oneself from manipulative individuals
• Not neglecting self-care

If you or someone close to you exhibits signs of narcissistic personality disorder, you can seek help from a healthcare institution, and with the assistance of a healthcare professional, you can work toward improving this condition.