Difference between narcissism and NPD?

[quote="My Username"]Those with NPD are quite a bit different than plain old narcissists. Some easy ways to differentiate..

NPD
- Lacks empathy - sees no wrong in personally attacking others, or completely ignoring you
- Being told "no" comes off as a personal attack
- Is oblivious to his own disorder
- Treats others as sub-human, but sees it as "they way it should be"
- Has few friends
- Is asocial when no attention from others is available

Basically, NPD is narcissism in all aspects of life - it is all pervasive. It is woven into the personality of the individual, and no amount of love or introspection can change their own opinion about their god-like self.

Yes, people can have it worse than others. Narcissism (most all college kids) is very common, especially in fields like law and business. NPD however, is quite unique. Some will argue NPD is on a spectrum with psychopathy, the psychopath being "very narcissistic".


But i understand why you ask.. NPD is very hard to spot. They are slick, kind, charming, whatever they need to be to get you to respect them. Your average narcissist will look like an a$$hole standing next to someone with NPD who is trying to make a good impression. Most with NPD do not come out from behind the mask until they are very close to you.
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They guard their inner world every second of every day. They are directing a movie in which they are the lead actor and the director. They manipulate their words, emotions, and thoughts in order to create a self that is ideal. They are utterly fake, but do not even know it. You will never see what is inside of them, until they act out in such a way that contradicts all that you thought they stood for.[/
I Agree with your description of NPD . It is really hard to spot NPD . It took me 6-7 years .they have a mask . When you have conversation with severe NPD . NPD's eyes tell you he is not interested .NPD knocks at your door when he needs help . If there is no benefit, NPD will ignore you .

There is no difference. What people think is "healthy narcissism" is just regular assertiveness. I am assertive, but I don't love an image about myself. I don't even think about such things.

addx wrote:Narcissists validate their false selves, not their emotions.

The narcissist is a person without a self(or the self is deeply repressed). He is a person who meticulously works on creating an artificial self.
...

As for the topic at hand. I'd postulate a single criteria for NPD vs. anything else:

Lifelong inability to fathom or comprehend a truly selfless act of will as nothing other than stupidity/mistake/weakness.

This.
I know this thread is a bit old, but you hit the nail on the head.
And described my ex with perfection.

addx wrote: As for the topic at hand. I'd postulate a single criteria for NPD vs. anything else:

Lifelong inability to fathom or comprehend a truly selfless act of will as nothing other than stupidity/mistake/weakness.

If that's the case I don't have NPD.

Whad do you think about this text. I found on internet and it is very interesting i read over and over time this text and have some questions...If NPD is caused by infantile damage and consequent developmental short-circuits, it probably represents an irremediable condition. What does it mean infantile damage? Is it some brain damage? And developmental short circuits what does it mean? http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/dsm-iv.html

heracles wrote:

addx wrote: As for the topic at hand. I'd postulate a single criteria for NPD vs. anything else:

Lifelong inability to fathom or comprehend a truly selfless act of will as nothing other than stupidity/mistake/weakness.

If that's the case I don't have NPD.

That sounds more like ASPD.

creative_nothing wrote:

heracles wrote:

addx wrote: As for the topic at hand. I'd postulate a single criteria for NPD vs. anything else:

Lifelong inability to fathom or comprehend a truly selfless act of will as nothing other than stupidity/mistake/weakness.

If that's the case I don't have NPD.

That sounds more like ASPD.

ASPD, BPD, NPD and HPD are all in all the same disorder, with varying symptoms and degree of symptoms.

Most people diagnosed with either one, will show traits of the others during their lifetime.

My Username wrote:Those with NPD are quite a bit different than plain old narcissists. Some easy ways to differentiate..

NPD
- Lacks empathy - sees no wrong in personally attacking others, or completely ignoring you
- Being told "no" comes off as a personal attack
- Is oblivious to his own disorder
- Treats others as sub-human, but sees it as "they way it should be"
- Has few friends
- Is asocial when no attention from others is available

Basically, NPD is narcissism in all aspects of life - it is all pervasive. It is woven into the personality of the individual, and no amount of love or introspection can change their own opinion about their god-like self.

Yes, people can have it worse than others. Narcissism (most all college kids) is very common, especially in fields like law and business. NPD however, is quite unique. Some will argue NPD is on a spectrum with psychopathy, the psychopath being "very narcissistic".


But i understand why you ask.. NPD is very hard to spot. They are slick, kind, charming, whatever they need to be to get you to respect them. Your average narcissist will look like an a$$hole standing next to someone with NPD who is trying to make a good impression. Most with NPD do not come out from behind the mask until they are very close to you.

They guard their inner world every second of every day. They are directing a movie in which they are the lead actor and the director. They manipulate their words, emotions, and thoughts in order to create a self that is ideal. They are utterly fake, but do not even know it. You will never see what is inside of them, until they act out in such a way that contradicts all that you thought they stood for.

Brilliantly said! Narcissistic tendencies are SO VERY different from NPD, the actual disorder. Sadly, there isn't much awareness out there about NPD, and so many people overuse the word "narcissist" making NPD (the disorder) even more difficult to spot. Thanks for posting this!!

What is the preferred term to use here when talking about someone who shows NPD traits but isn't confirmed pwNPD?
Just so I don't get it wrong!

ACatNamedEaster wrote:What is the preferred term to use here when talking about someone who shows NPD traits but isn't confirmed pwNPD?
Just so I don't get it wrong!

I'm not an expert but here are a few suggestions with possible abbreviations:

sub-clinical narcissist---subCNarc
self-suspected person with NPD---self-SpwNPD
person high in narcissist traits---pwHighNarcTraits
self-identified narcissist---selfIDNarc
self-suspected possible narcissist----selfSUSPpossNarc
self-suspected possible person with NPD---selfSUSPposspwNPD
possible narcissist or person with NPD---possNarc/pwNPD

I sort of just made these up just now, though I've been mulling some of them over for a while. At this point I think I MAY be a narcissist, and MAY have NPD, although being a radically agnostic and skeptical person, I go back and forth between thinking

(a) narcissism and/or NPD is a real thing, accurately defined and theorized about, and
(b) a social construct based on a kernel of reality, but grossly exaggerated and distorted by class and personality type (i.e. academics, privileged professionals and jealous, mediocre people.)