Differentiating between NPD and ASPD
Graph made by me using data from Stanton and Zimmerman, ‘Unique and Shared Features of Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Disorders: Implications for Assessing and Modeling Externalizing Traits’, Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2019.
The ICD-11 and DSM-5 also list the following traits that can overlap or help differentiate between NPD and ASPD:
NPD:
Hypomania (”narc high”)
Extremely sensitive to criticism - may lead to a spiral of shame, humiliation, and self-criticism (”narc crash”)
Overestimating abilities while underestimating others’ abilities
Idealisation of others who are seen as special, important
Fragile self esteem
High expectations (of self and others)
Susceptible to eating disorders
May be unwilling to take risks or compete if there’s a chance of loosing (and therefore showing imperfections, flaws)
ASPD:
Poor planning skills
Unable to tolerate boredom (which is often intense)
Irritable
May have a history of some Conduct Disorder symptoms in adolescence
Callous, cynical, ruthless
Susceptible to anxiety
Has concern for own needs and wants but not others’
Both:
Manipulative
Overestimating own abilities
Susceptible to substance abuse
Need to be right all the time
Excessively opinionated
Superficially charming
Requires admiration (excessively in NPD)
Attention seeking (in a positive or negative way)
Susceptible to depression