Narcissism is more than a personality disorder.

It’s common to label people considered self-centred or egotistical as a narcissist. But what exactly is narcissism? How common is narcissism? And how do we know when someone is living with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?

Narcissism is more than a personality disorder. It is believed to be a healthy developmental process in childhood, which exists in people from normal to clinical levels.

Most, if not all, of us demonstrate narcissistic tendencies over time. However, narcissistic personality disorder is rare. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders between 0.5 and 1 percent of the general population (50 to 75% are men) is diagnosed with NPD.

While it is common to refer to a selfish or arrogant person as a narcissist, the psychological definition is not only subtle but is also relatively rare.

Please follow this link (https://www.sane.org/information-stories/the-sane-blog/mental-illness/is-narcissism-common-the-answer-may-surprise-you) to read the full article which discusses –

  • Narcissism in history
  • Narcissistic personality traits on a continuum
  • Normal narcissism
  • Narcissistic personality type
  • Pathological narcissism or NPD.

Written by Tanya Peisley is a Senior Counsellor with the SANE Help Centre.

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