Can Vulnerable Narcissists be charismatic?

I am learning about Narcissism and feel this person fits the Vulnerable/Covert Narcissist perfectly except I keep hearing that they are not charismatic, but she is. Can someone point to some material that touches on this?

Thank you!

I probably have traits of covert narcissism. I think I'm charismatic when I feel like I am in a supportive surrounding.

Iznahs wrote:I probably have traits of covert narcissism. I think I'm charismatic when I feel like I am in a supportive surrounding.

I think most of us will be charismatic (or at least perform better) when we are supported

MindfulThoughts wrote:

Iznahs wrote:I probably have traits of covert narcissism. I think I'm charismatic when I feel like I am in a supportive surrounding.

I think most of us will be charismatic (or at least perform better) when we are supported

Yeah probably though I'm guessing a non doesn't need support to be charismatic.

It really depends on who Is talking about this and what theory they are operating off. Ellinor Greenberg has a bunch of really good writing on Quora about this. In the system she uses they believe that there are essentially 3 distinct types of a narcissist. A grandiose type, a vulnerable type (covert), and a malignant type.

The grandiose type seeks to be the center of attention attempts to drown out other people so they are the only ones anyone sees and is generally more likely to address confrontations head on and in person.

A vulnerable type is more likely to attach themselves to things or organizations to appear like great people, to get adulation by proxie of the causes they attach themselves to. Think a lot of social justice warriors, church Karen’s that think they can do no wrong because they are doing Gods work, these people don’t actually care about the issues they just care about how it makes them look but they don’t know this because they don’t really understand why other people do these things. We are living in a phony superficial narcissistic echo chamber as a society. These types will usually avoid direct spotlight as they don’t have the grandiosity and believe they are defective and will be exposed as a fraud (as they usually are). This kind of a person usually attacks people indirectly, spreading rumors behind people’s backs atttempting to smear them and discredit them etc. I’m sure you know the type.

Then you have the malignant type I believe my grandfather was this type, they are always trying to destroy other peoples self esteem. Casting doubt in their minds, nothing is ever good enough for them. You do them a favor and they try to belittle you. I remember my father buying him some brand new slippers for around the house my father was very particular about which ones he bought him but he said he hated them and he would probably fall and break his neck in them to take them back and bring him something he could wear. It was a game he played, it kept my father coming back to visit him and he kept criticizing him over anything he tried to do.

I can certainly switch on the charm

I mean I would like to say that I'm perfectly charming 100% of the time but I don't think most people would support me on that point