The Line Between NPD and AsPD

I know this topic has been discussed all over the internet, but it's starting to confuse me. I identify with a lot of the traits associated with AsPD, but supposedly don't meet the diagnostic criteria.

Is the line between these disorders a firm one, because it looks blurry to me. Many of the diagnostic descriptions of these PDs seem to overlap a lot.

When I think of narcissists I tend to think of people like Tony Soprano, John Dillinger, John F Kennedy, Charlie Sheen to name a few. When I think of Sociopaths I tend to think more along the lines of Charles Manson, Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Jeffery Dahmer, Hannibal Lecter. I myself am a Narcissist, verified via psychiatrist. I has interfered with every relationship I have been in since I countinously think I can have my cake and eat it to. The people I am with never find out, but when I have done almost every possible dispicable thing to them I get bored and leave them and they are blindsided because they have know clue why. I can sweet talk the best of them.

OP, perhaps you are NPD with AsPD traits, but not enough of them for a comorbid situation?

I've never been a fan of the approach to PDs where one PD stops where another one starts, and I think there are a lot of blurred lines and hybrids. That said, I've always thought of AsPD as a "hot" disorder and NPD as a "cold" disorder, inasmuch as pwAsPD seem to be more likely to be impulsive and/or to act on their emotions quickly and express them easily outwardly, while pwNPD are more likely to contain, repress, and extinguish their true emotions, not show them to the world, and are likely to think things through logically instead of acting impulsively. Also, pwAsPD seem to get a genuine thrill out of doing things that others consider "bad," while pwNPD require positive attention for supply and so tend to steer away from behavior that is considered to be "anti-social" by those around them. I suspect there are a lot of situations where persons with PDs have a mix of both sets of traits though.

Also, I think Narcissists and "Sociopaths" or whatever you want to call them have a lot of the same goals, they just tend to go about them in different ways. Narcissists seem to seek power and control from within existing systems, hence their behavior will be, by definition, "social." Sociopaths tend to seek power by disrupting existing systems, therefore their behavior will be "anti-social." Sociopaths seem to believe that existing systems will never give them power, so they try to topple those systems. Narcissists seem to believe that they can work their way into the existing systems in order to obtain power from within. Both use similar tactics to manipulate, but do so from different angles. Sort of like becoming a big hedge fund guy and then using all your power for personal gain, versus robbing the company that manages the hedge funds. And of course then you have your Gordon Gekko types who do both. Those would probably be hybrids.

There's definitely a lot of overlap. I score highly in tests for AsPD (which have to be taken with a pinch of salt at any rate) but I'm lacking key traits and wouldn't be diagnosed with it by any competent doctor.

I don't know how common it is but I have met people inpatient that I know were diagnosed AsPD and NPD. I'm comorbid AsPD/BPD but thinking about it all it's easy in my opinion to tell AsPD from NPD. They are two different disorders and about the only thing they have in common viewing them separately is they both tend to have a lack of empathy. Antisocials take this lack of empathy and make it into criminal behavior. Not just annoying and family destroying behavior to others around them.

AsPD is a disorder where someone is doing criminal activity. NPD really isn't. Not in the same violent, aggressive way that an antisocial would. Though they are both exploitative NPD usually has a different agenda. They like to be "special." They will form relationships to get things from people but the ultimate goal can be different than what an antisocial wants. An antisocial if you offer them position of King would probably deny it and a narcissists would accept it in a heartbeat. Antisocials are more about the money, material side of things. Narcissists also seem to maintain relationships for some sort of image. The underlying aspect of NPD is low self esteem as well and people with NPD need to do things to maintain this image all the time, constantly. Where an antisocial doesn't concern themselves with that really at all.

NPD is a disorder where the person has low self esteem, lack of empathy and is constantly looking for ways to reassure themselves that they are wonderful. AsPD is a disorder where the person has a lack of empathy, is impulsive, aggressive and uses all this to commit crimes.

I had a person in mind when I wrote this. And that's someone I know is diagnosed with AsPD/NPD. That person is involved in illegal activity and is the leader of the activity too. They give off a different vibe than just a person diagnosed with AsPD and I've met my fair share inpatient of us golden people. There is criminal activity but there is this desire also to get the ego checked all the time and this person used to sometimes get violent when they were brushed the wrong way. Think soprano mob bosses when you think AsPD/NPD. Think bankrobber when you think antisocial. Think CEO when you think narcissist.

lifeofpi wrote:I had a person in mind when I wrote this. And that's someone I know is diagnosed with AsPD/NPD. That person is involved in illegal activity and is the leader of the activity too. They give off a different vibe than just a person diagnosed with AsPD and I've met my fair share inpatient of us golden people. There is criminal activity but there is this desire also to get the ego checked all the time and this person used to sometimes get violent when they were brushed the wrong way. Think soprano mob bosses when you think AsPD/NPD. Think bankrobber when you think antisocial. Think CEO when you think narcissist.

I think you did a pretty good job of designating certain differences between the PDs.

Just curious, but in which type of situations would you say your ASPD really comes out ?

I don't really think I have the personality disorder at all. Having a personality disorder is your whole entire life though not just certain situations. My psychiatrist has told me that I meet the minimum amount of criteria for diagnosis so I guess it comes out in crime (obviously) and I have a tendency to be aggressive and get into fights frequently. And irresponsibility as I'm pretty bad at holding down a job. Got a habit of playing too much hookie and getting fired.

lifeofpi wrote:I don't really think I have the personality disorder at all. Having a personality disorder is your whole entire life though not just certain situations. My psychiatrist has told me that I meet the minimum amount of criteria for diagnosis so I guess it comes out in crime (obviously) and I have a tendency to be aggressive and get into fights frequently. And irresponsibility as I'm pretty bad at holding down a job. Got a habit of playing too much hookie and getting fired.

lol yeah, the crime , losing jobs, and the fights would seem to be enough for many psychologists to diagnose you.

what situations lead to your fights?

what situations lead to you acting aggressive? And how do you exhibit your aggression exactly?

And which general crimes do you commit ?

I apologize for the questions, but i am very curious into ASPD. You seem to be a particularly intuitive so i would see it would be good to ask you

You see that's the problem. I'm not a criminal. Nothing but an illegal music downloader and a jay walker.