10 Types of Narcissistic Personality Disorders

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by an inflated sense of one's own self-importance and a deep need for admiration, as well as a lack of empathy for others. It can be easy to be fooled when you first meet someone with this condition narcissists are often charming, likable people. But learning about the different types can help you spot them in the wild, and protect yourself from being taken advantage of. Here are 10 types that might sound familiar:

1. The Extroverted Narcissist

Extroverted narcissists enjoy talking about themselves and creating an image of success, power, and attractiveness to gain admiration from others. They're usually talkative and flirtatious, so they can be fun to be around at first. You'll probably notice them bragging incessantly, name-dropping famous people they know or have worked with, exaggerating their achievements or talents, or acting entitled.

When you confront them about their behavior, they'll insist that their actions were meant as a compliment or a joke. And even if they did offend someone close to them in the past, it's not something they feel bad about now. Everyone has done something like that before so it's not a big deal.

2. The Ambivalent Narcissist

The ambivalent type is more troubled than the extroverted one. When they're not feeling insecure or anxious, they can be charming and sociable, so it may take a while before you realize that they have a lot of problems. The ambivalent narcissist alternates between grandiosity and an inferiority complex. You'll probably notice them exaggerating their achievements or talents while criticizing other people's work in the same breath.

They will often complain about a lack of respect or appreciation, but at the same time might feel jealous of the success of others even close friends or family members if they feel it interferes with their own reputations. Everyone is jealous sometimes, but for narcissists, it's always about them.

3. The Paranoid Narcissist

A paranoid narcissist may be hard to distinguish right off the bat because their inflated sense of self-importance and lack of empathy are disguised as a need for privacy and independence. They often present as argumentative, defensive, hostile, or cold because they don't understand other people's emotions or perspectives and don't care to learn about them.

When someone criticizes them or says something about them that is not flattering, they perceive it as an injustice perpetrated against them and will react aggressively. They are likely to be envious of people who have qualities that they feel are superior to theirs (e.g., more success, better looks).

4. The Psychopathic Narcissist

The psychopathic narcissist is charming and manipulative, but their tendency to be cruel, callous, and even sadistic may become apparent after you get to know them better. They are prone to engaging in hostile actions against people they dislike or who threaten their self-esteem.

They may use intimidation or humiliation as a way of asserting power and control over others. You'll probably notice that they don't seem to experience remorse for bad things they have done in the past (or even present) because they don't really feel bad about it. In their minds, they are merely reacting to what others have done in the past.

5. The Explosive Narcissist

The explosive narcissist shows contempt for other people's feelings and will insult or humiliate them at times when they feel inspired. They usually have a problem with impulse control and can explode without warning or provocation when something makes them angry, even if it is something trivial.

They might be impulsive, angry, and even violent towards other people whenever they feel that someone has taken something from them that they think is rightfully theirs like an insult or unfair criticism. Sometimes they may even retaliate by attacking the people who made them angry in the first place.

6. The Catatonic Narcissist

A catatonic narcissist is not the kind of person you'd want to get in an argument with or hang out with. You'll notice that they are depressed and socially withdrawn, even when they appear outwardly to be cheerful and energetic.

Typically, a catatonic narcissist will barely respond to things that people say to them and rarely engage in conversation for fear of seeming vulnerable.

If someone does talk to them, they will seem spaced-out and distant and might have a hard time concentrating on what's being said. They may have problems interacting with people because all of their attention is focused inward towards themselves.

7. The Strung-Out Narcissist

A strung-out narcissist appears to be emotionless and uncaring. They are often apathetic, lackadaisical, and listless. They can also be prone to periods of depression, when they might withdraw even further from social life. They can't seem to grasp that other people have needs or feelings of their own. And they will not be able to empathize with others' pain because they feel that there is nothing wrong with them even when others tell them otherwise.

8. The Delusional Narcissist

The delusional type feels superior over other people and is rarely realistic about what is possible for themselves in life. They often claim to be a famous celebrity or a high-ranking person in their profession, and they might even believe that they are actually that person. Even if they learn that it is impossible for them to achieve those things, they will continue to persist with the same fantasies, which can make it hard for them to relate to other people in their lives.

9. The Collecting Narcissist

Collecting narcissists are not well-liked because they feel entitled to have everything they want without any regard for other people's needs or feelings. They might give themselves a lot of credit for their accomplishments and take pride in their possessions or possessions alone. They are usually insensitive to other people's emotions and do not seem to care what they think of them. They often focus on acquiring more things, without regard for the consequences.

10. The Adaptive Narcissist

The adaptive narcissist knows their limitations and are often thoughtful in their treatment of other people. They will not appear perfect, but they will not exploit others or say hurtful things to them either. They'll be considerate and take into account other people's feelings. When you get to know them better, you'll notice that they can be self-deprecating and at times even seem sensitive or overly kind towards others, which is probably why we see them as more appealing than the other types of narcissists.

Conclusion

Narcissism is a personality disorder characterized by an exorbitant sense of self-importance, exaggerated feelings of uniqueness, and a lack of empathy for others.

If you are dealing with someone who has narcissism issues, it's important to understand that they have the best intentions at heart. They may even be very intelligent people and they can often be extremely charming or seductive.

The problem is that their behavior indicates a flaw in the way they view themselves or possibly something wrong in their upbringing making it hard for them to see other people as true equals or even real friends.