Narcissist is a word that pop psychology has blown up in the last few years. Just because someone is confident or sure of themselves doesn’t mean they are a narcissist. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a diagnosis that needs to have several criteria met before the diagnosis can be given. Let’s look at the criteria.
According to the DSM-V,(this is where psychiatric diagnoses are spelled out) Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is diagnosed when defined by the following:
NPD is defined as a comprising a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), a constant need for admiration and a lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by the presence of at least 5 of the following 9 criteria:
• A grandiose sense of self-importance
• A preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, of ideal love
• A belief that he or she is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with other special or high status people or institutions
• A need for excessive admiration
• A sense of entitlement
• Interpersonally exploitive behavior
• A lack of empathy
• Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her
• A demonstration of arrogant and haughty behaviors or attitudes
You can understand now why it is hard to be in a relationship with someone who has NPD. It’s damn near impossible.
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