• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Psychologist explains the four types of narcissism and the signs of each one

Home> News> Health

Updated 15:19 30 Aug 2024 GMT+1Published 14:35 30 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Psychologist explains the four types of narcissism and the signs of each one

If you don't know what to look out for, there's a whole list of people you need to be wary of

Britt Jones

Britt Jones

While the term narcissist is usually a blanket term, one expert wants you to know that there are actually four types of people to watch out for, and it’s not always easy to spot.

Dr Ramani Durvasula, PhD, a psychologist and author who teaches psychology explained the four different types of narcissists and how you know which one you’re talking to.

When speaking to MedCircle, she explained that there is approximately ten to fifteen percent of people in the world who are ‘noticeably’ narcissistic - and estimates 80 percent of narcissists are men.

Advert

She said that when boys are told to 'toughen up' this can turn into a 'lack of empathy' as adults.

She added that the fact that 'men are also very measured on their achievements' such as their salary, job title, car and house, and these 'superficial drives' can encourage narcissistic traits.

You might know a few of these. (Getty stock image)
You might know a few of these. (Getty stock image)

She explained: "If a women behaves in a narcissistic way she's often checked early in the game, whereas if a boy or a man behaves that way he's not called out."

Although we’ve read so much about how to spot a narcissist, it’s not so cut and dry and there’s more than one way it presents itself.

Advert

Here’s what she said about the four types of narcissism in the YouTube interview.

Grandiose narcissist

Dr Durvasula shared that this is the ‘Chanel suit of narcissism’ and is probably more of what you’d expect to see in a person with those traits.

She explained that this type of person is egotistical, attention-seeking, very materialistic and needs validation to feel good about themselves.

Essentially, it’s ‘your garden variety’ narcissist.

Advert

They’ll be that businessperson who drives seven cars, wears the best clothes and only talks about themselves.

Covert narcissist

This secret narcissist is somebody who is someone ‘very put upon by the world’ but is still grandiose in nature.

They often feel like life has done them wrong, and while they’ll get mistaken for being depressed, you’ll find that antidepressants and traditional methods of help do not work.

That’s because they’re not depressed at all, they instead have a victim mindset.

Advert

Dr Durvasula explained that these people feel like they have greatness that the world had overlooked.

She said ‘they’re hypersensitive to criticism’ and will ‘throw a tantrum’ and ‘be cold’ in response to feeling rejected.

These people think that their greatness is being under appreciated, rather than believing that they could try to do better to be successful.

They always need that validation. (Getty stock image)
They always need that validation. (Getty stock image)

Malignant narcissist

This type of narcissist is ‘more problematic’, according to the expert.

Advert

She explained that they’ll have all the traits as a grandiose narcissist, but they’re also ‘really mean’.

So, they’ll do a lot of bad things, almost psychopathic things that hurt others.

For example Dr Durvasula said ‘they will steal money from a company, they will cheat on their partner’ and they’ll lie because ‘they’re great criminals’.

But unlike a psychopath, they do feel bad if they hurt those within their circle or family.

They won’t care if it’s someone else.

They feel better than everyone else. (Getty stock image)
They feel better than everyone else. (Getty stock image)

Communal narcissist

Now, this one is a narcissist that’s tricky to spot.

Dr Durvasula explained how excited she was when she read about this type because it’s astonishing.

But you’ll immediately know one person like this.

The psychologist explained that a communal narcissist is someone who commits to performative acts of community help.

This is someone who will post on social media all the time that they’re off to feed the homeless while looking like a model.


She explained this this person goes to benefits, they donate, they do a lot of good things but it’s all for praise and show.

They’ll also talk about it a lot, and it’s because they want to show off how great they are.

They’re essentially seeking validation for their good deeds.

Dr Durvasula said: "What you will see is a tremendous lack of empathy for the people they're trying to help."

Now, that’s scary.

Featured Image Credit: Getty stock image/ MedCircle

Topics: News, Lifestyle, YouTube

Britt Jones
Britt Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Why people get strange white bumps all over their body including private parts

    If you've noticed white bumps on your body and private parts, you've come to the right place

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Why most expensive item in the world is worth £49,000,000,000,000 for just one gram

    The most expensive item in the world is said to be worth roughly £49 trillion per gram

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    US Air Force shares truth behind 'highly unusual' flight from Donald Trump's 'doomsday plane'

    The doomsday plane was spotted in American skies this week and an explanation has finally been given

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Woman explains why she lives in same house with her husband, ex-partner and their kids in bizarre situation

    A mum is living in a South Carolina home with her children, her ex-husband and her current husband

    News
  • Doctor explains the six different types of narcissist and how to spot the differences between them
  • Mental health expert explains which types of alcohol cause the most hangxiety
  • Woman camped for three days on one of 'most dangerous islands in the world' and gave four tips for survival
  • Psychologist who battled addiction shares signs that suggest you might be living with one