Welcome to the Understanding Narcissism Community

This episode outlines the distinctions between overt, covert, and mixed narcissism, emphasizing how understanding these behaviors can help individuals recognize manipulation, set boundaries, and protect their mental health.

This episode of Understand Narcissism offers an introductory overview of narcissistic traits and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, explaining their impact on relationships and emphasizing the importance of recognizing narcissistic behavior to protect one’s mental well-being.

A study by NYU researchers published in Personality and Individual Differences found that narcissism is driven by deep insecurity rather than inflated self-esteem, revealing that self-promotional behaviors are attempts to mask low self-worth.

Why do narcissists never seem to get away with it? In this episode, we dive into the frustrating reality that many victims of narcissistic abuse face—how manipulators deflect blame, rewrite narratives, and avoid consequences while their victims are left to pick up the pieces.

As reported by the University of Waterloo’s Media Relations in Thinking & Reasoning, researchers found that narcissists—especially those with grandiose traits—are overconfident but less likely to use reflective thinking, impairing their ability to make sound decisions.

In an editorial published by NeuroLaunch, the team explores how intellectual narcissism—an ego-driven misuse of intellect—undermines collaboration, trust, and learning, urging readers to embrace humility as a path toward healthier discourse and collective growth.

Waclaw Bak and Jan Kutnik, writing for Personality and Individual Differences, found that self-esteem and narcissism independently predict intellectual humility, with self-esteem promoting and narcissism undermining it, especially in ego-sensitive domains.

Presidential narcissism often prolongs wars as leaders prioritize their self-image over national interest, though exceptions show it's a key factor—not the only one—in wartime decisions.

In his PsychCentral article, Darius Cikanavicius explains that narcissists typically react to information about narcissism with denial, projection, emotional defensiveness, or aggression, rarely showing self-awareness or a desire to change.

Dr. Suzanne Holroyd’s article 15 Signs and Behaviors of Narcissistic Father Checklist (2024) details the traits and behaviors of narcissistic fathers, their manipulative impact on children and family dynamics, and provides strategies for coping with their emotional control and abuse.