10 Narcissist Symptoms

By katherine

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Narcissus is a well-known character from Greek mythology. Looking at himself in the water, he became enamored with his own reflection. When he drowned, a new flower bloomed and was named after him. Some scholars have suggested this myth was a warning to the ancient Greeks, who believed it was bad luck to see a reflection of your own face.

Today, the name of Narcissus is given to a psychological condition known as narcissistic personality disorder, or NPD. It is described in the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the official guide used by mental health professionals to diagnose and treat psychological problems. Read the 10 narcissist symptoms to decide whether you or someone you know may fit the personality profile of a narcissist.

1. Inflated Self-Image

Narcissism is not all about gazing at one’s own reflection in the mirror. Most narcissists do consider themselves attractive, but this belief is only one part of the overall personality disorder. Narcissists also think themselves smarter, more talented, and generally better than others. They see everyone else as being inferior and so may act in a condescending way toward them.

A narcissist’s feelings of self-worth are always in relation to other people. He can experience extreme highs and lows in self-esteem, depending on the individual to whom he is being compared. For example, in the face of evidence such as losing a competition or failing a test, he might chock up his failure to bad luck rather than to any inherent weakness. On the other hand, any proof that he is inferior to others may devastate him emotionally.