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What is a 'Narcissistic Psychopath'?

Signs
Co-occurrence
Causes
How to protect yourself

Next steps

Narcissism and psychopathy can coexist, and it may be difficult to deal with. Protect yourself with clear boundaries, realistic 
expectations, and support.

Engaging with someone with narcissistic or psychopathic traits can be challenging. When they occur together, it can be especially 
harmful to your mental and emotional health.

While narcissism and psychopathy have distinct traits and characteristics, they also have similarities and may overlap in some 
cases.

You're not alone, however. There are ways you can navigate the relationship while protecting your emotional well-being.
Signs of NPD and psychopathy

"Both personality disorders share a lack of empathy," explained Boston-based psychotherapist Angela Ficken, "but psychopathy often 
includes more overtly harmful, reckless, or antisocial behaviors."
Signs of NPD

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) involves thoughts of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration and external validation, 
and a lack of empathy and regard for others. Signs include:

strong sense of entitlement
lack of empathy for others' feelings
constantly seeking validation or admiration
exaggerating achievements or talents
believing they are superior to others
taking advantage of others for personal gain

Signs of psychopathy

In contrast, psychopathy, often related to antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), involves a disregard for social norms. Signs 
include:

persistent lying or deceit for personal gain
manipulative behavior
impulsivity and failure to plan ahead
aggressive or reckless behavior
lack of empathy or concern for others' safety or feelings
difficulty forming emotional attachments or maintaining relationships

Can traits of psychopathy and narcissism co-occur?

Yes, psychopathy and narcissism can overlap. When this happens, the person may exhibit characteristics of both personality 
disorders, said Ficken. These may include:

grandiosity combined with manipulative or deceitful behavior
entitlement with a disregard for the rights or feelings of others
exploitation of others, either to feed a sense of superiority or for personal gain without remorse
aggressive or hostile behavior when they feel their sense of self-worth is threatened
charm and charisma are used manipulatively to gain control over others
impulsivity and a sense of entitlement leading to reckless behavior that harms others
lack of guilt or remorse when hurting others and blaming others for problems

Michael Anderson, counselor and clinical director at Healing Pines Recovery in Colorado, warns that a lack of empathy exhibited in 
narcissistic traits can be especially dangerous when mixed with an absence of remorse seen in those who have psychopathic traits.

Anderson provided an example of how the co-occurrence of these traits may present themselves.

"They can inflict pain without feeling sorry and without even realizing what the consequences of their actions may be," he said.

Those with a grandiose sense of self carry an inflated sense of self-worth, convinced they are above all others, he added.

"Such towering pride brings about extreme violations of the feelings and rights of others, making people live in miserable 
conditions."
What causes narcissistic and psychopathic traits?

ResearchTrusted Source suggests several factors may contribute to the development of narcissistic and psychopathic traits, such as:
Genetics

Heredity is suggested to play a significant role in the development of personality traits and disorders. Characteristics such as 
impulsivity and aggression can be passed down through families.
Brain structure

Anderson said that some kinds of personality disorders are associated with dysfunction of certain brain zones or with 
disorganization of the personality structure.

"There may be some structural changes in those brain areasTrusted Source that are involved in controlling and modulating 
emotions," he explained.
Early childhood experiences

Ficken noted that being excessively praised or criticized as a child can contribute to the development of narcissistic traits like 
grandiosity or low self-esteem masked by superiority.

With psychopathy, things like abuse, trauma, or a lack of attachment or care during early childhood may contributeTrusted Source to 
the development of antisocial traits.
Protecting yourself from someone with NPD or ASPD

Engaging with someone who has narcissistic and psychopathic tendencies can take a mental and emotional toll. Our experts offer 
several tips that can help you navigate the challenges and protect your emotional well-being.

Set clear boundaries: People with narcissistic or psychopathic tendencies often push limits, so it's essential to be firm about 
your boundaries. Communicate them clearly and consistently, and be prepared to enforce them.
Avoid emotional engagement: Individuals with these traits can manipulate emotions, so it's helpful to remain calm and avoid 
reacting emotionally to their provocations. Keep interactions focused on facts, and try to avoid getting drawn into arguments or 
drama.
Manage your expectations: Remember that someone with these traits is unlikely to genuinely care about your feelings. Adjust your 
expectations, and avoid seeking emotional validation from them.
Limit your exposure: If possible, minimize the time you spend with the person, especially if the relationship is toxic or harmful. 
There are times when it's OK to step back for the sake of your mental health and finding balance in life.

Next steps

If engaging with someone with narcissistic or psychopathic tendencies is affecting your emotional health, don't hesitate to seek 
support from friends, family, or a therapist.

Many therapists are trained in working with personality disorders. To find one who specializes in narcissistic personality disorder 
and psychopathy, the following resources are a good place to start

Healthline FindCare
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Institute of Mental HealthTrusted Source
U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesTrusted Source

 

7 sourcesexpanded

Anderson M. (2024). Personal interview.
Fariba KA, et al. (2024). Personality Disorder.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556058/
Ficken A. (2024). Personal interview.
Mitra P, et al. (2024). Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556001/
Moreira D, et al. (2021). Childhood traumatic experiences and psychopathy: A comprehensive review. 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34843347/
Schoenleber M, et al. Parallel syndromes: two dimensions of narcissism and the facets of psychopathic personality in criminally 
involved individuals. 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3368369/
Shafti SS. (2019). Malignant Narcissism: Concealed side of psychopathy.
https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.003686.php

Medically reviewed by Bethany Juby, PsyD - Written by Susan Fishman, NCC - Updated on October 9,2024
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"Trump Derangement Syndrome" Is a Real Mental Condition

All you need to know about "Trump Derangement Syndrome," or TDS.

"Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is a mental condition in which a person has been driven effectively insane due to their dislike 
of Donald Trump, to the point at which they will abandon all logic and reason."

Justin Raimondo, the editorial director of Antiwar.com, wrote a piece in the Los Angeles Times in 2016 that broke TDS down into 
three distinct phases or stages:

"In the first stage of the disease, victims lose all sense of proportion. The president-elect's every tweet provokes a firestorm, 
as if 140 characters were all it took to change the world."

"The mid-level stages of TDS have a profound effect on the victim's vocabulary: Sufferers speak a distinctive language consisting 
solely of hyperbole."

"As TDS progresses, the afflicted lose the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality."

The Point here is simple: TDS is, in the eyes of its adherents, the knee-jerk opposition from liberals to anything and everything 
Trump does. If Trump announced he was donating every dollar he's ever made, TDS sufferers would suggest he was up to something 
nefarious, according to the logic of TDS. There's nothing - not. one. thing. - that Trump could do or say that would be received 
positively by TDSers.

The history of Trump Derangement Syndrome actually goes back to the early 2000s - a time when the idea of Trump as president was a 
punch line for late-night comics and nothing more.

Wikipedia traces its roots to "Bush Derangement Syndrome" - a term first coined by the late conservative columnist Charles 
Krauthammer back in 2003. The condition, as Krauthammer defined it, was "the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in 
reaction to the policies, the presidency - nay - the very existence of George W. Bush."