4 types of narcissism share a central trait
There are four main types of narcissism. Researchers have been searching for the core of narcissism that all narcissists share despite the variety of symptoms and severity. Narcissists use a variety of tactics and defenses to keep you insecure and to ensure that their status and needs are met. It’s easy to get confused, but it’s important to understand and detect what type of narcissist you are dealing with. Recently, two research teams have
identified a common trait.
The great narcissist
Although there are different degrees and types of narcissism, for years research focused primarily on familiar-exhibitionist narcissists who seek prominence. These are the boastful magnificent narcissists who are public figures and are recognizable in movies. They are described in the Statistical Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).
We can all recognize those charming, attention-seeking extroverts whose vanity and boldness are sometimes unpleasant and unabashed. They are self-absorbed, authoritarian, insensitive, exploitative, authoritarian, and aggressive. Some are physically abusive. These arrogant and ruthless narcissists think highly of themselves, but don’t look down on others. Aided by their extraversion, they report high self-esteem and satisfaction with their lives, despite the pain they cause to others. Because they outwardly seek acclaim, attention, and domination, grandiose narcissism shows up. Even in love, they seek power by playing. Many maintain relationships, despite the lack of intimacy and the unhappiness of their partners, who are easily seduced by their charisma and boldness.
The vulnerable narcissist
A lesser known type of narcissism is vulnerable Narcissism (also known as covert, introvert, or covert narcissism. Like their grandiose relatives, vulnerable narcissists are self-centered, titular, exploitative, unsympathetic, manipulative, and aggressive, but they fear criticism so much that they avoid attention. Individuals from both Types of narcissism often lack autonomy, have imposter syndrome, a weak sense of self, are alienated from themselves, and an inability to master their environment. However, vulnerable narcissists experience these things to a markedly greater degree.
Unlike grandiose narcissists, instead of feeling secure and self-satisfied, vulnerable narcissists are insecure and unhappy with their lives. They experience more distress, anxiety, guilt, depression, hypersensitivity, and shame. They are in conflict, have negative inflated and irrational views of themselves, the latter that they project onto other people, their lives and the future. His negative emotionality represents a bitter neurotic aversion to personal growth. They require reinforcement for their great self-image and are very defensive when perceived criticism triggers their negative opinion of themselves.
Unlike extrovert narcissists, they lack positive relationships. Rather than dominate people boldly, they are threat-oriented and distrustful. His attachment style is more avoidant and anxious. They withdraw from others with hostile guilt and resentment, internalizing their narcissism. Empathic codependents feel understanding and want to rescue them from their misery, but end up sacrificing themselves and feeling responsible for them.
The communal narcissist
Even more difficult to identify is a third type of narcissism. Only recent communal narcissism was named. Communal narcissists value warmth, kindness, and affinity. They see themselves and want to be seen by others as the most trustworthy and understanding person, and they try to achieve this through kindness and kindness.
They are outgoing like the great narcissist. However, while the great narcissist wants to be seen as the smartest and most powerful, a communal narcissist wants to be seen as the most generous and helpful. The vain altruism of communal narcissists is no less selfish than that of a great narcissist. Both share similar motives for grandeur, esteem, entitlement, and power, although each employs different behaviors to achieve them. When his hypocrisy is discovered, it is a major downfall.
The evil narcissist
Malignant narcissists are considered to be at the extreme end of the narcissism type continuum due to their cruelty and aggressiveness. They are paranoid, immoral and sadistic. They find pleasure in creating chaos and bringing people down. These narcissists are not necessarily grandiose, outgoing, or neurotic, but they are closely related to psychopathy, the dark triad, and antisocial personality disorder. (Houlcroft, et al. (2012)
Fluctuating ego states between types of narcissism
If you have a hard time identifying what type of narcissist you are dealing with, it could be because great narcissists oscillate between states of greatness and vulnerability. For example, grandiose narcissists may show vulnerability and emotionality (usually anger) when their success is thwarted or their self-concept is under attack. Greater grandeur indicates greater instability and probability of fluctuation. There is little evidence that vulnerable narcissists display grandiosity. (Edershile and Wright, 2019), (Rhodewalt, et al. 1998)
The search for the core of narcissism
Using new techniques, recent studies have attempted to isolate a unique and unifying trait among narcissists. The researchers examined narcissism by testing for different personality traits. Two recent models have emerged: one is based on personality and the other is an integrative and transactional approach.
The trifurcated model
The trifurcated model shows that narcissism focuses on three personality traits: agent extraversion, dislike, and neuroticism. (Miller, Lynam, et al., 1917) (Outgoing agents are bold, authoritarian entrepreneurs who pursue positions of acclaim, achievement, and leadership.)
Of the five Big Five personality traits, dislike is the only one common to both types. The model illuminates the core of narcissism as an interpersonal antagonism, shared by grandiose and vulnerable narcissists alike. It is characterized by manipulation, hostility, entitlement, callousness, and anger. (Kaufman, et al., 2020) Vulnerable and grandiose narcissists express antagonism differently. The former are more hostile and distrustful, and the latter are more immodest and domineering.
The spectrum model
The Narcissism Spectrum Model (NSM) created by Kerzan and Herlache (2017) conceives of narcissism as existing on a spectrum that ranges from grandiose to vulnerable. Show how NPD varies in severity and how traits manifest. The model reveals the model of the spectrum of narcissism
that both types of narcissists share a common psychological core of entitled self-importance. Narcissists believe that they and their needs are special and take precedence over those of others. This core is made up of arrogance, self-participation, and rights. In fact, the right to receive benefits is reportedly the most toxic element in relationships.
Different personalities of narcissists express diverse qualities at various times, this model captures a fluid and functional analysis that is more representative of real life. The greater the grandeur of a person, the less his vulnerability and vice versa. More rights and risk taking increase professional and interpersonal difficulties. The greater the vulnerability, the more remote (less) is its grandeur.
To go
In short, narcissism exists on a spectrum ranging from dominant and extrovert to introverted and neurotic. The core characteristics of narcissism are antagonism, self-importance, and entitlement, which make narcissists unpleasant and uncooperative business partners and associates. Because other personality types can be antagonistic, I prefer the spectrum model that highlights conceited entitlement as the core of narcissism, thus distinguishing it from sociopathy and borderline personality disorder, among others.
Great narcissists present a mixed bag. While they feel and function better than vulnerable narcissists and can participate socially when they wish, their antagonism and rights create problems and jeopardize relationships. If you are attending psychotherapy, you must focus on your antagonism and right.
On the other hand, vulnerable narcissists need help managing their perceptions, moods, and emotions. They resemble people with borderline personality disorder and would benefit from dialectical behavior therapy, which is effective in reducing antagonism. Schema-focused psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are helpful for both types in reducing shame and anger.
Regardless of the type of narcissist you care about, the relationship is painful. Instead of meeting your needs, you are undermined and drained from dealing with frequent criticism, callousness, hostility, demands, and legitimate expectations. Don’t waste your efforts on pleasing or changing a narcissist. Instead, begin recovery to rebuild your self-esteem and autonomy so that you are more resilient, whether you stay or go. If you are undecided, get some individual psychotherapy and use the tools in Dealing with a Narcissist to determine the prognosis of your relationship.
© DarleneLancer 2020
Edershile, E. and Wright, E. (2019). “Fluctuations in Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissistic States: A Momentary Perspective”. DOI: 10.31234 / osf.io / 8gkpm.
Houlcroft, L., Bore, M. and Munro, D. (2012). “Three faces of narcissism”. Personality and individual differences, 53: 274-278.
Kaufman, SB, Weiss, B., Miller JD and Campbell, WK (2020). “Clinical correlations of vulnerable and grandiose narcissism: a personality perspective”, Journal of Personality Disorders, 34 (1), 107-130.
Krizan, Z. and Herlache, AD (2018). “The Spectrum Model of Narcissism: A Synthetic View of the Narcissistic Personality”, Review of personality and social psychology, 1:29. DOI: 10: 1177/1088868316685018.
Miller, JD, Lynam, DR, Hyatt, CS and Campbell, WK (2017). Controversies in narcissism. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 13, 291-315.
Rhodewalt, F. and Morf, CC (1998). On Self-aggrandizement and Anger: A Temporal Analysis of Narcissism and Affective Reactions to Success and Failure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74 (3), 672.
