Narcissism is often spoken of as elevated and sometimes detrimental self-involvement. But it’s not just a personality type that shows up in advice columns; it’s actually a set of traits classified and studied by psychologists. The psychological definition of narcissism is an inflated, grandiose self-image: to varying degrees, narcissists think they’re better looking, smarter, and more important than other people, and that they deserve special treatment.
Psychologists recognize two forms of narcissism as a personality trait: grandiose and vulnerable narcissism.
“Grandiose narcissism” is the most familiar kind, characterized by extraversion, dominance, and attention-seeking. Grandiose narcissists pursue attention and power, sometimes as politicians, celebrities or cultural leaders. Of course, not everyone who pursues these positions of power is narcissistic. Many do it for very positive reasons like reaching their full potential or helping make people’s lives better. But narcissistic individuals seek power for the status and attention that goes with it. Meanwhile, vulnerable narcissists can be quiet and reserved; they have a strong sense of entitlement but are easily threatened or slighted.
Taken to the extreme, this behavior is classified as a psychological disorder called “narcissistic personality disorder.” It affects one to two percent of the population, more commonly men. It is also a diagnosis reserved for adults; young people, especially children, can be very self-centered, but this might just be a normal part of development. Traits associated with narcissistic personality disorder include a grandiose view of oneself, problems with empathy, a sense of entitlement, and a need for admiration or attention. What makes these traits a true personality disorder is that they take over people’s lives and cause significant problems. Imagine that instead of caring for your spouse or children, you used them as a source of attention or admiration. Or imagine that instead of seeking constructive feedback about your performance, you instead told everyone who tried to help you that they were wrong.
So what causes narcissism? Twin studies show a strong genetic component, although we don’t know which genes are involved. But environment matters, too. Parents who put their child on a pedestal can foster grandiose narcissism, and cold, controlling parents can contribute to vulnerable narcissism.
Narcissism also seems to be higher in cultures that value individuality and self-promotion. In the United States, for example, narcissism as a personality trait has been rising since the 1970’s, when the communal focus of the sixties gave way to the “self-esteem movement” and a rise in materialism.
So can narcissists improve on those negative traits? Yes. Anything that promotes honest reflection on their own behavior and caring for others—like psychotherapy or practicing compassion towards others —can be helpful. The difficulty is, it can be challenging for people with narcissistic personality disorder to keep working at self-betterment. For a narcissist, self-reflection is hard from an unflattering angle.
From the TED-Ed Lesson The psychology of narcissism - W. Keith Campbell
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