In simple layman’s terms, a narcissist is someone who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.  Some would call this merely being a jerk or any other slew of words or curses you can throw their way. There is no test to determine if an individual is a narcissist or not. You can only determine on your own if the person is eliciting “signs” of narcissism.

There is actually a name for this called NPD or Narcissistic Personality Disorder. People with this condition typically have a lack of empathy and can be described as arrogant or self-centered. They think they’re better than everyone, or as my mom would say, “He thinks his shit doesn’t stink.”  The majority of narcissists tend to be men (go figure), upwards of 50% and higher.

So how do you know someone is a narcissist? Here are some key signs to watch out for.

 

Narcissist_ 10 Warning Signs to Watch For

 

10 Warning Signs of a Narcissist

 

 

Exaggerates the importance of themselves 

The world revolves around the narcissist, or at least that’s what they think. Without them, the human race would almost certainly collapse. Everything has to be done their way because it is the best and they can’t possibly be wrong, ever. The reverse can also work for the narcissist. Since they are starved for attention, they can also be the sickest or injured, therefore craving the most attention.

can't do what I do

 

 

 

Fantasizes Constantly

The narcissist dreams big, all the time. These dreams are more along the lines of fantasies of bigger and better things. A better romance, house, car, career, you name it, and it needs to be bigger and better than everyone else.

NPD

 

 

Controlling

Narcissists can not trust others, so they want to be in control continually. In their minds, by being in control, they can make sure the outcome is how they want it to be. If the result is not how they thought it would be, it’s not their fault.

controlling

 

 

 

Blames others

Nothing is ever the fault of the narcissist because they can do no wrong in their eyes. Therefore, if something doesn’t go according to plan, it is always someone else’s fault, never theirs. They cannot own up to any responsibility for errors or mistakes, even if it is blatantly a mistake they made.

i-blame-you

 

 

 

Craves constant attention and admiration 

A narcissist is always on the prowl for attention and admiration from others. The need attention all the time and will often act out to elicit a reaction. They need constant praise and validation and need to be told they are great or the best. A narcissist will often brag, but many times, that comes from a feeling of insecurity. They tend to be shallow and have easily fractured egos.

pay attention

 

 

 

Takes advantage of others to reach his or her own goals

A narcissist will step over anyone to get what they want. One reason is because of their lack of empathy (see below) but also because they feel they are more important than you, so why shouldn’t you do as asked. There is no sense of caring for how you feel or how a decision they make will affect you.

advantage

 

 

 

Disregards the feelings of others, lacks empathy

Narcissists are selfish people, self-involved with only what directly affects them. They don’t understand how other people are feeling because they don’t take the time to listen. It is about them and only them. You will rarely receive an apology from a narcissist. They also have little to no understanding of how and why their feelings occur, which is why they blame someone else for the way they are feeling.

empathy

 

 

 

Relationship issues

Since the narcissist has problems listening to others and empathizing, they tend to have issues in real relationships. These can be romantic relationships or close friendships. No one wants to be around a person who continually tells you how much better they are than you.

relationships

If you want to know more about men ladies, then read Every Woman Needs To Know These 10 Things About Men

 

 

Shows arrogant behaviors and attitudes

A narcissist has no problem talking down to someone or demeaning the person for their gain. If they feel threatened in any way, they will strike back with insults or arrogant behaviors to one-up the other person or put them back in their place. They have no problem attacking and name-calling when necessary.

arrogant

 

 

 

The perfectionist

No one is perfect. But the narcissist believes everything should be perfect because, you guessed it, they’re perfect. When things aren’t perfect, you will hear complaining, and this will often occur because… (no one and nothing is perfect). It is a vicious cycle to try to escape.

 

At some point in your life, you’ve most likely encountered a narcissist. It is a difficult situation to deal with or be around, which is why it’s difficult for a narcissist to receive the treatment they need or even acknowledge they have a problem. Some form of psychotherapy is necessary to help the narcissist to begin to heal and change.

Read more on NPD…

I hope this article helps you recognize the warning signs you might experience in future relationships at work or in your personal life. Have you ever experienced a narcissistic person before? How did you handle it? Let me know in the comment section.

13 Comments

  1. Aryanne Padilha -

    The meme with Kanye is the best!!! hahaha I read nothing but the truth here. It’s so crazy to see how so many people are narcissists. Kinda scary actually.

    Reply
  2. Amy

    This is so interesting. I know a lot of people probably say this but this was by definition my ex-boyfriend. Every single aspect! What made you want to write about the narcissist?

    Reply
    • Scott DeNicola

      It is something that has always bothered me and I have a “relative” like this who drives me crazy.

      Reply
  3. Ivana

    It’s always sad to come across someone who is a narcissist. And it’s also sad to meet people who are the opposite and don’t believe in themselves. It’s quite good to see all the characteristics listed down, I will watch out for them.

    Reply
  4. The Sunny Side Lifestyle Co.

    If you spot these 10 Warning Signs of a Narcissist in one of your personal relationships my suggestion is to run! The quality that most stands out to me, as one that is not tolerated, is the lack of empathy.

    Reply
    • Scott DeNicola

      Agreed! Run hard and fast. The narcissist does not change.

      Reply
  5. Alexandra

    Hmmm, after reading this list I am glad that I can’t remember ever coming in contact with a “true” narcissist. I have come in contact with people who have some of these characteristics but not all. I seriously don’t think I could survive very long around a person like that but I guess it’s possible as I see articles all the time about women stuck in a relationship with a narcissist.

    Reply
  6. Daphne Takahashi

    Narcissist people are actually really dangerous people to be around, because just as you said they take advantage of others to reach their goals. So just run if you find someone like that. Awesome pointers on how to spot one! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  7. Britt

    Great warning signs – Honestly, we’ve all likely encountered a narcissist at one time or another, whether it’s a former friend, family member, coworker or just someone we meet in passing. Knowing what to look out for is the first step in protecting ourselves.

    Reply
  8. Sonia

    If only I knew these signs, I probably wouldn’t have gone through so much pain in my life. This is eye-opening.

    Reply
  9. Thuy

    I dated a narcissist when I was a teenager who was also a compulsive liar/manipulator. At the time I was very immature and sadly, I went through a phase of taking on narcissistic qualities after we broke up. Fortunately, I learned to empathize and become a better person than that. I’ll be avoiding these red flags from now on

    Reply
  10. Lyanna Soria

    I’ve had a couple of narcissist friends that I didn’t know they were one until I’ve read up some signs in the past. Those are some great points to keep in mind and surely you’ll notice those red flags easier next time around.

    Reply
  11. Madeline Gourley

    My business partner of 14 years is an alcoholic narcissest. He made my life a living emotional and financial hell! I am retired now, thank God, and can spot them a mile away! Yes! Stay away, don’t waste your time defending yourself or trying to get them to see the light. They Cannot!

    Reply

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