10 September,2025 09:24 AM IST | Durham | Agencies
Narcissism is no longer seen as just grandiosity. REPRESENTATION PIC
You've probably seen the word "narcissist" thrown around online in headlines, on dating apps or in therapy-themed TikToks. But the label hides a complicated psychological picture. Psychologists have studied narcissism for many years, and over time, understanding has evolved. Today, narcissism is no longer seen as just grandiosity, arrogance or egotism.
Narcissism is now understood as a set of personality characteristics that can show up in different ways. Psychologists had long suspected that there might be different kinds of narcissism, but this wasn't formally recognised until research presented in 1991.
A 2021 review explains that narcissism has a common foundation, which includes things such as self-importance and entitlement. It branches into different forms of narcissism, such as grandiosity, antagonism and vulnerability.
Researchers use grandiose and vulnerable to describe two major forms of narcissism. One person with narcissistic traits may be bold with high levels of grandiose traits, confidence and emotional resilience. Another might be defensive, anxious and hypersensitive to criticism. Both show signs of narcissistic self-focus, but they end up looking quite different in how they experience and express emotion. A 2022 research paper carried out the first meta-analysis examining how narcissistic traits relate to the ability to control one's emotions.
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