The 3 Types of Narcissism

Narcissism has become a catchword to describe pretty much anyone who's vain, self-obsessed, and craves the spotlight. (You can probably think of a few examples off the top of your head.) But there's a lot more about this personality trait to unpack—including the fact that there's more than one type of narcissism.

Surprised? Here's what to know about the different types.

Defining Narcissism

"Narcissist," "a**hole," and "jerk" are often used interchangeably, but experts would beg to disagree.

"Narcissism is a failure of a healthy sense of self," Elizabeth G. Loran, Ph.D., an assistant professor of medical psychology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, told Health.

In general, a narcissist has an outsized need to be admired, a sense of entitlement, and constant thoughts about being better than others, whether that means being more successful or more loved. The overarching expression of this type of personality "is an obsession with self that prevents intimacy with others," Paul Hokemeyer, Ph.D., a psychotherapist and author of Fragile Power: Why Having Everything Is Never Enough, told Health.

While it's unclear if narcissism is on the rise, what has increased are the outlets where narcissistic personality traits can be put on display—and celebrated. From TikTok to Instagram to reality TV, "these mediums have brought narcissism into our lives and homes with an increased frequency and intensity," said Hokemeyer.

According to a 2018 research article from Frontiers, narcissists fall into two broad categories: grandiose and vulnerable; a third category, narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), is an actual mental health disorder. All share some traits, such as self-centeredness and exaggerated self-importance. But within each type are some critical differences.

Grandiose Narcissism

Take a sense of "I'm better than you" and add in ambition, charisma, and charm, and you get a grandiose narcissist, "like Tony Stark from Iron Man," W. Keith Campbell, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Georgia and author of The New Science of Narcissism: Understanding One of the Greatest Challenges of Our Time — and What You Can Do About It, told Health. "They're sometimes likable, like a politician or a celebrity, and people look up to them, so they don't have to be mean all the time," explained Campbell.

A grandiose narcissist has high self-esteem, a tendency to overestimate their abilities, and a habit of trying to manipulate or control others. They'll push forth positive illusions about themselves while simultaneously trying to suppress any info that puts them in an unflattering light.

A 2018 review in Psychology explained that grandiose narcissists could also be either "adaptive" or "maladaptive," depending on which traits they display the most or at a given time.

Adaptive narcissists build up their self-esteem to protect themselves from being hurt by others. "These individuals tend to be more successful in life than the majority of the population because they strive to be more attractive, healthier, and more successful versions of themselves," said Hokemeyer.

They can also be friendly, warm, persuasive, and have real leadership qualities. But, according to the Psychology review, maladaptive narcissists don't have such sunny intentions—they're willing to exploit others to get ahead and feel entitled to do so.

Vulnerable Narcissism

Unlike a grandiose narcissist, a vulnerable narcissist isn't the life or leader of the party. They're more likely to be standing in the corner, sipping a drink, irritated that no one's paying attention to them.

Vulnerable narcissists are insecure, introverted, and have low self-esteem—"someone who thinks they deserve special treatment but isn't aggressive in getting their needs met," said Campbell.

Although they fantasize about success and want other people to admire them, so they feel better about themselves, according to the Frontiers study, vulnerable narcissists are passive and withdrawn, which makes reaching their goals a tough sell. They may resort to being manipulative and passive-aggressive to hurt others because they can't achieve the admiration they crave.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

Narcissism exists on a spectrum. Showing traits that could classify you as a grandiose or vulnerable narcissist doesn't necessarily mean you have a mental health disorder. In small amounts, it may even give you a healthy edge in getting ahead in the world.

But extreme narcissistic symptoms are classified as NPD, or what some call "pathological narcissism."

"This is the type of narcissism we think about when we state with derision that a person is a narcissist," Hokemeyer said. "These individuals are self-absorbed, manipulative, and exploitative in relationships. They lack compassion and empathy and believe they're superior to everyone and everything around them," Hokemeyer explained.

A 2018 review article in Psychiatry Research describes the DSM-5 (the manual of mental disorders that experts use to make a diagnosis) criteria for diagnosis of NPD.

People with NPD display five or more of the following traits:

• An inflated sense of self-worth
• Constant fantasies about being better than others
• A belief that they are more special than others/should only associate with high-status people
• An insatiable need for flattery and admiration
• Feelings of entitlement
• Willingness to take advantage of others to get what they want
• A lack of empathy
• Arrogance
• Feeling envious of others or that they're jealous

The irony? Despite these behaviors, people with NPD often suffer from low self-esteem.

Can Narcissism Be Treated?

Counseling is considered the best treatment for NPD, since it can help people who have it understand how to connect with others in a healthier way. "Different forms of narcissism lead to different problems, and those demand different solutions," Campbell said.

For instance, a grandiose narcissist may get a better perspective by spending more time in (and being awed by) nature. A vulnerable narcissist could feel less anxious by learning to meditate or taking antidepressants.

"People hear NPD and think, 'That must be a bad person' versus someone who struggles to see others clearly," said Loran. "But with treatment, people can change and people can recover."