What are the signs of narcissists? How will you deal with an individual who has an overblown sense of superiority?
Well, if you know a person who has an unreasonable need for admiration, who condones everyone’s feelings, and can’t bear genuine criticism. Then, probably that person is suffering from NPS. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a mental condition in which a person has an excessive and unnecessary sense of self-importance and a lack of empathy for others. The person dealing with this has very fragile self-esteem that is vulnerable to the subtlest criticism.
We can not mix narcissistic personality disorder with a person’s self-confidence because narcissism involves hardcore selfishness at the expense of others. The cause of this disorder is still unknown, but some facts have proven that a combination of genetics and environmental factors can likely induce Narcissistic personality disorder. Researchers are digging trying hard to gather all necessary information about this illness. While it is not possible to clearly determine if a person is suffering from NPD, but we can still observe some narcissistic traits in their behavior.
Discussed below are all the traits, and behavior that can be signs of a narcissists.
Here are signs of Narcissists that show how to deal with people with overblown sense of superiority:
1. Superiority and Arrogance
If you have known a person who thinks that he is superior than all and the rest are inferior or less important, then there are strong chances that person is suffering from NPD. These narcissistic people tend to believe that their skills and accomplishments are better than others. They would constantly praise themselves for every minor thing they did or even if they are at fault at times. Sometimes these people try to gain sympathy from others by playing the victim card, and may demand an apology from others for their own mistakes. This type of narcissism is called Covert Narcissism.
2. Attention Seeker
Attenntion seeking is one of the most prevalent narcissistic traits. Conscious attempts to become the center of attraction is the most dreadful narcissist trait. A person suffering from this order tends to exaggerate things in order to elicit attention and validation from others. Sometimes in addition to all the negative narcissist traits – like superficial interpersonal relationships, lack of empathy and sense of grandiosity – this disorder also accompanies minor other psychiatric disorders as well.
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3. Perfectionism
Perfectionism is one of the ultimate signs of narcissists. Narcissism also causes one to live in the dream world of perfectionism. For a narcissist, people, surroundings and almost everything around, should be picture perfect according to them. As a matter of fact, nothing is ever perfect, if it is not as per their wants. This sheer, strong desire of wanting things to be their way can fail them at times and make them disappointed with the results. At times, they constantly complain and rant about not reaching expectations causing a mindless cycle of misery for themselves.
4. Lack of Responsibility
Lack of responsibility is one of the most prevalent narcissistic traits.Manning up or owning up to things can either be highly burdensome or reward-worthy, depending on the outcome of the situation. Narcissists enjoy being credited for everything, but hate being debited by responsibility. When unimpressed, they feel dejected and tend to strangle someone else with the misery that entangles them. Ability of shift blame comes naturally to them. Precisely, the one closest to them – their partner in crime – is the one to blame. This helps them feel at ease since they thrive in the mirage wherein you are the anomaly in the equation and they are perfect as ever. More so, this is because you, as their well-wisher, would never say anything against them so they switch places with you.
5. Lack of Empathy
Lack of empathy is one of the ultimate signs of narcissists. Empathizing is the secret sauce of human interdependence. But narcissists can never display or even feel this emotion for others. They are busy sympathizing themselves with opinions they think are deemed right and expect others to follow along. This constant thought of being the ‘only one‘ erects barriers to effective understanding. Further, the self-centeredness leads to them rarely showing signs of guilt or remorse. To worsen situations, they sometimes feel that a third party causes them to feel a certain way; a way that shapes them to be negative, vulnerable, conscious. And this spoils their reputation of being perfect. This definitely pivots them from comprehending emotions, thereby, they take everything at face value instead of understanding the unspoken context the person is trying to convey. Without a doubt, this makes it difficult for them to have proper relationships with people since foundation of any relationship is built on trust and emotions and requires care and attention.
6. Emotional Reasoning
 Tiffs and friction are common in relationships. To solve the ongoing conflicts we usually sit, talk, reason, and understand, right? But, this isn’t how it goes with narcissists. Since they are aimlessly bogged down in the mire of their self revolving thoughts, they fail to understand your true emotions. They can not understand what their words do to you or how it affects you; even if you explain it, they don’t. Even if they say they do understand, in all honesty, they don’t.
They find it irrational to put in the effort to think from your point of view. Rather they would spend time trying to wean away from their depressing or boring thoughts. It’s easy for them to dump, discard you and find another substitute to satisfy their needs. You are a mere subject, thereby, if you go against what they say they might react with seething irritation.
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7. Splitting
Life is possible with a balance of the yin and yang, the good and bad, the ren of two people. But narcissists can not be the misleading or the bad ones in their books. They’ll go into denial each time they do something awful and shift it on you. Plus, they can never digest the fact that a grey area exists. For them, it has to be either side of the road – good or bad. Nothing in the middle.
An example could be that while on a road trip just because the air conditioning in the car doesn’t function properly – the entire trip is disastrous in their analogy. They truly can’t blend or balance perspectives and the only one that leads is their own.
8. Fear of Rejection
Fear of rejection is one of the ultimate signs of narcissists. Narcissists live in a fear of rejection and failure. They constantly think that people would see their flaws and imperfection and would dump them. Or they would fail at a certain stage of life. In such scenarios, they are alsways seeking attention and sympathy for their fears. Some narcissists also show symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and exaggerate simple things like having fear of germs, fear of falling ill, fear of getting hurt, etc.
9. Over-controlling and Dominating Nature
One of the most negative narcissistic traits is that they are Over-controlling. These people try to overpower everyone they are close with, and are offensively self persuaded and aggressive domineering mean in nature. Dominate is derived from the word Domain, which means home, and by domination, it means, ruler of the home or things. That’s why these narcissists tend to seek ruling power over others. Power, attention, and entitlement are the components of this narcissistic trait.
10. No Respect for Personal Space
People suffering from extreme narcissism tends to break walls or boundaries set by others. They believe that everything in this world is happening for them; And that the world revolves around them, and belongs to them. They would demand things according to their needs, without caring about the needs or sentiments of others.
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11. Defensive Nature
Narcissists tend to get defensive easily, as they take everything as a threat. They have a fear that people are constantly trying to hurt or belittle them. They misread others’ gestures, usually facial expressions, in a wrong way, and can attack you in order to save themselves. They usually misunderstand people’s intentions.
12. Anxiety
Anxiety causes a person to continually worry about the uncertainty of future events. Narcissists face a lot of this mental issue. They tend to hide it at times however, much of it comes out as complaints. They throw accusatory claims on their close ones and nag them for making them feel pessimistic. This basically transfers their anxiety to you – who is left to feel worse. While you are pulled down by the gravity of anxiety they bloom on the ground above stress-free.
13. Deeply Repressed Shame
Remorse and guilt are not on the emotional checklist of narcissists because of their assumption of being always right and superior. The only stigma that latches them deep within is shame. Shame is the reason their fears, insecurities, and unhealthy traits are not at the surface level. They pretend to be strong while they curtain those vulnerabilities and show you an image of themselves that they aren’t. They lack the strength to face their identity so all you ever see of them is a perfect, unexisting facade.
14. Inability To Be Vulnerable
It’s very difficult for narcissists to get emotionally attached to the people around them. They are unable to show their vulnerable side to even their close ones, all for the fear of being judged. This at times prevents them from building any meaningful relationships, as vulnerability is key to building a deep connect with others.
15. Lack of confidence and inability to communicate
You just cannot expect any supportive and cooperative behavior from a narcissist. They may joke about someone’s emotions or hard circumstances without any shame. They want others to feel for them, but they struggle to recognize and respond to emotions of others. Not only in terms of understanding feelings, but narcissists may have hard time communicating with people around them.
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These people lack empathy, respect for others’ feelings, and privacy. They believe that all people are in the same boat as them and, can’t accept that other people can look at the world from a different perspective. They want everyone to understand their situation and with the same intensity of pain, whether they are involved in that situation or not. Hope these signs of narcissists will help you spot a narcissist person before you become victims of their toxic nature.