How to Identify a Malignant Narcissist (2023)
www.verywellmind.com

... A malignant narcissist is an abusive person who finds pleasure in lying, manipulating, and using other people in order to get the things that they want.

Narcissism is a personality trait recognized throughout history, but awareness of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and narcissistic personality in popular culture has grown.1 As a result, people may wonder whether they are dealing with someone who is selfish, thoughtless, or overly power-seeking"or if they are dealing with someone with a true disorder.

This article discusses what it means to be a malignant narcissist and how to spot the signs. It also explores what causes this type of behavior and what you can do to protect yourself from a malignant narcissist. ...

What It Means to Be a Malignant Narcissist ...

Among the different types, people with malignant narcissism are by far the most harmful to others. Social psychologist Erich Fromm, who first coined the term malignant narcissism, called people with this type "the quintessence of evil."1 ...

Signs Someone Is a Malignant Narcissist

Signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder (and the severity of these symptoms) vary. But the following are common characteristics of malignant narcissists:1

- - - Preoccupied with fantasies about beauty, brilliance, success, and power

- - - Unable to handle criticism

- - - Tendency to lash out if they feel slighted

- - - Likely to take advantage of others to get what they want

- - - Overly concerned about their appearance

- - - Expect to be treated as superior and craves this validation, also known as narcissistic supply

- - - Lack of empathy for others

- - - Inflated sense of self and inability to self-regulate

- - - Have no remorse for hurting others and no interest in apologizing unless it benefits them

- - - Have an attitude of deserving the best of everything

- - - Tendency to monopolize conversations and/or mistreat those who they perceive as inferior

- - - Hidden insecurity and a weak sense of self

- - - Tendency to blame others for their own bad behavior

Additional signs of malignant narcissism can include:

- - - Seeing the world in black-and-white terms, including seeing others as either friend or foe

- - - Seeking to win at all costs, leaving a great amount of pain, frustration, and even heartache in their wake

- - - Not caring about the pain they cause others -- or maybe even enjoying it and experiencing it as empowering

- - - Doing what it takes to protect themselves from loss, inconvenience, or failing to get what they want in any situation

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Note: I am not a medical professional, I have no medical training.