Table of Contents hide

1.1 What percentage of humans are narcissistic?

1.2 Who is most likely to be a narcissist?

1.3 Which generation has the most narcissists?

1.4 What percentage of people are narcissists?

1.5 Narcissism statistics 2021

1.6 Narcissism statistics 2020

1.7 Root cause of narcissism

1.8 How many narcissists are there in the UK?

1.9 Narcissistic personality disorder test

1.10 What percentage of narcissists are male?

1.11 Narcissistic relationship pattern

1.11.1 Narcissistic statistics conclusion

1.12 Further reading

Narcissistic Statistics

Narcissistic Statistics. Many psychologists believe that narcissism is a spectrum, and narcissistic traits are often a part of other disorders. In other cases, narcissism is so extreme that it interferes with normal healthy functions. This is known as narcissistic personality disorder or NPD.

Narcissistic personality disorder exhibits some interesting trends in the population, which can be seen through facts and narcissistic statistics about narcissistic personality disorder. This information can help people learn the difference between the disorder and regular narcissistic traits, discern if someone they know has NPD, and learn how to manage symptoms of the condition.

How prevalent is Narcissism?

Everyone has narcissistic traits to some degree. In healthy individuals, a normal amount of narcissism helps them take pride in their accomplishments and find joy in their personal life. Even a high degree of narcissism is sometimes a normal occurrence. Most teenagers display narcissistic qualities as a normal and healthy part of their development and personal growth.

Narcissistic personality disorder, on the other hand, is much less common. Approximately 0.5% of the UK population, or 1 in 200 people, has the disorder. There are significant gender differences when it comes to the prevalence of the disorder; about 75% of people with narcissistic personality disorder are men.

The prevalence of narcissistic personality disorder is higher in certain demographics, including:

2–6% of those seeking help from mental health clinics

6% of forensic analysts

20% of people in the military

17% of first-year medical students

Usually, narcissistic personality disorder first appears in early adulthood.

Narcissism Rates And Co-occurring Condition

Like other types of personality disorders, pathological narcissism frequently occurs along with other mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder.

Depression and Anxiety: Subtypes of patients who are vulnerable to criticism from themselves or others have a higher risk of having symptoms of depression or anxiety. About 15% of people with a narcissistic personality disorder also have depression, 13.5% have anxiety and around 17% have another mood disorder.

Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder is also fairly common among people with a narcissistic personality disorder. About 17% of people with pathological narcissism also have either bipolar I or bipolar II.

Eating Disorders: In some cases, people with narcissistic personality disorder obsess over their appearance. These individuals have a higher risk of developing an eating disorder because of their obsession with staying thin and meeting idealized beauty standards.

Other Personality Disorders: Different personality disorders commonly co-occur with a narcissistic personality disorder. People with the condition, especially those who have a grandiose persona, may also have a paranoid personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

Histrionic, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders also sometimes co-occur with NPD which is a huge count towards the narcissistic statistics being gathered.

Substance Use Disorders: People with narcissistic personality disorder frequently have a substance use disorder as well. They may use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate and cope with the frustration and anxiety that comes with the condition. About 14% of people with a narcissistic personality disorder also have an alcohol use disorder, while 24% misuse other types of drugs.

What percentage of humans are narcissistic?

What percentage of humans are narcissistic? Narcissism contributes to the economic crisis. Many people have narcissistic overconfidence when they claim to be able to do things they clearly wouldn’t be fit to do.

For instance, they may brag about being able to afford a luxurious car and then fantasy collides with reality, and the consequences have been worse for the economy than anything since the Great Depression. Obviously, there are lots of causes for the things they do, but I think an unrecognized cause is that narcissistic overconfidence. Narcissistic overconfidence?

There are these great studies where you bring people into the lab and ask them questions, then ask them how confident they are in their answers. Then, they bet a certain amount of money based on how confident they are. Well, narcissists are always very, very confident, so in those situations, they end up losing a lot of money because they think they’re smarter than they actually are.

A twist on that narcissistic statistics study is to ask them made-up questions, like, “Have you ever heard of…” and make up the name of somebody. Narcissists will say, “Yeah. Of course, I’ve heard of him.”

A study carried out a few years ago found that narcissism was increasing substantially among a nationwide sample of college students. The effects were compared to the obesity epidemic, and it was found that the rise in narcissism was just as big as the rise in obesity in adults.

This means: If obesity is an epidemic, then there could be an epidemic of narcissism growing fast. What percentage of humans are narcissistic? This past summer [a study of] a nationally representative sample of 35,000 UK citizens found that 6 percent of them, or 1 out of 16, had experienced [clinical narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)] at some point in their lives.

And there was a big generational effect. You’d expect that people who are older would have a higher percentage of having experienced this because they’ve lived so many more years. But only 3 percent of people over 65 had had any experience with NPD, compared with almost 10 percent of people in their 20s.

Given that you can only diagnose this when someone is 18, that’s a pretty short number of years in which to have this experience. That was another pretty big indication that this was an out-of-control epidemic.

What’s fueling the rise in narcissism?

The four causes that we identify in the book are parenting, celebrity culture, media, the Internet, and easy credit. For example, with parenting, in an attempt to raise kids with self-esteem, many parents will tell their kids they’re the best ever and they’ll treat them like royalty, placing the child at the center of the household. In a limited way, that’s fine, but it’s often taken too far.

When you put a kid on a pedestal, that type of parenting, it’s been shown, leads to narcissism. With celebrities, you watch the Real Housewives of New York City [or] My Super Sweet 16, and the narcissistic traits are just obvious in every episode.

Reality TV shows, in general, are highly narcissistic, and [reality TV stars] are the most narcissistic of all celebrities, according to research carried out. What concerns me about that is that those are the shows that are really popular among young people.

They’re supposed to show real life; they’re not supposed to be scripted or fictionalized. What they really are is a showcase for narcissistic people and behavior that makes narcissism seem normal.

What about the Internet and easy credit?

MySpace and Facebook often encourage people to highlight only narcissistic parts of their personalities. People rarely talk about how much they like reading War and Peace on MySpace. Instead, it’s that picture that makes me look hot, it’s that cool party I went to, it’s the cool friends that I have, it’s my cool music.

With young teens, I wonder if that will shape their identities so that in real life they’ll start emphasizing those parts of their personalities more. Finally, easy credit allows people to look better off than they actually are.

It fuels their sense of entitlement because they can get something without having to pay for it [immediately]. We’re now seeing the consequences of that because, guess what, you do have to pay for it.

Who is most likely to be a narcissist?

Who is most likely to be a narcissist? Some individuals are indeed more susceptible to developing a narcissistic personality. Narcissism is characterized by self-centeredness (“It’s all about me!”), grandiosity (“I’m better than you!”) and vanity (“Look at me!”).

It involves multifaceted psychological traits, motives, and needs that influence how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Given this complexity, developing this form of extreme self-love is not as simple as inheriting a particular gene or experiencing a specific event. Instead becoming a narcissist likely involves an intricate mix of genetic and psychological or environmental factors.

Currently, we know more about the psychological side of the equation. So far researchers have identified two major trajectories that can lead to narcissistic tendencies. The first scenario involves children who receive unconditional positive feedback from a family member, teacher, or coach, despite not displaying the attributes deserving of such praise.

Who is most likely to be a narcissist? Social-learning theory, when applied to the development of narcissism, suggests that a person who receives constant admiration, regardless of his or her actual ability, will come to expect such feedback from everyone. Such a child may fail to acquire a realistic self-concept, one that acknowledges both their flaws and their virtues.

The second trajectory involves the opposite scenario. Children who grow up in families that are cold and deprived may also develop narcissistic personalities. Receiving inadequate validation and support can be painful and frustrating.

To cope with this dejection, children may protect themselves by repressing negative feelings and replacing them with a distorted, grandiose self-concept. Similar to the first trajectory, the children’s self-concept can then become unrealistically inflated and inconsistent with their true skills and accomplishments.

To support this view, they may also come to expect constant admiration from others.

Which generation has the most narcissists?

Which generation has the most narcissists? If you employ or manage Millennials or Gen Zers—the youngest current generation doesn’t seem to appreciate any of the admittedly cringe-worthy nicknames, like iGeneration—you’re likely Gen X or a Baby Boomer. And it’s possible that you harbour some less-than-flattering opinions of these two younger generations.

Lazy. Disloyal. Tech and social media are addictive. Tradition and industry killers. Disruptors. Self-absorbed.

Media coverage over the past several years hasn’t exactly been overwhelmingly kind to Millennials or Gen Z, with the former being bathed in a particularly negative light.

Which generation has the most narcissists? Here’s the thing: Older people tend to dump on younger generations. Boomers accused Gen X of being lazy, pessimistic, anti-establishment slackers bent on redefining adulthood to fit their own ideals.

While it’s under debate in the academic world, there’s a belief that every generation goes through a “vanity phase” as they transition into young adults.

This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. Not all research psychologists or academics focused on narcissistic statistics as regards human behaviour believe it, but many think it makes sense that people would be more conceited when they’re adolescents and emerging results.

Throw in social media, the ubiquitous nature of cell phones, and the addiction to both, and it’s not surprising either that older generations believe Millennials and digitally native Gen Z are self-obsessed.

A research article published that participants among their three sample groups (1,700 participants in total, some identified as “young adults aged 18-25,” some as Millennials) believed “adolescents and emerging adults are the most narcissistic, entitled, and overconfident.” Interestingly, several hundred participants were emerging adults.

What percentage of people are narcissists?

What percentage of people are narcissists? NPD was associated with mental disability among men but not women. High co-occurrence rates of substance use, mood, anxiety, and other personality disorders were observed. With additional comorbidity controlled for, associations with bipolar I disorder, PTSD, and schizotypal and borderline PDs remained significant, but weakened, among men and women.

What percentage of people are narcissists? The prevalence of lifetime NPD was 6.2%, with rates greater for men (7.7%) than women (4.8%). NPD was significantly more prevalent among Black men and women and Hispanic women, younger adults, and separated/divorced/widowed and never-married adults.

Similar associations were observed between NPD and specific phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar II disorder among women; and alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, drug dependence, and histrionic and obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorders among men. Dysthymia was significantly and negatively associated with NPD.

Narcissism is measured on a continuum – we all have some elements of narcissism, but there are some whose narcissism is far more dominant and pathological with the worst being NPD.

To meet the criteria for NPD, one needs to display the following features in an extreme and/or impaired manner (I’ve abbreviated from the original DSM V):

grandiosity

preoccupation with self-importance

lack of empathy

believes he/she is special and unique

seeks excessive admiration

sense of entitlement

takes advantage of others to meet his/her own needs

envious of others (or thinks others are envious of them)

arrogant

We all exhibit a mild degree of some of these features, but not in a pathological way – there’s a big difference. I would say there’s a much higher percentage of people with strong narcissistic features (who are pathological but not necessarily NPD) in the community than 6.2%.

Narcissism statistics 2021

Narcissism statistics 2021. Narcissism is driven by insecurity, and not an inflated sense of self, which finds a new study by a team of psychology researchers. Its research, which offers a more detailed understanding of this long-examined phenomenon, may also explain what motivates the self-focused nature of social media activity.

For a long time, it was unclear why narcissists engage in unpleasant behaviors, such as self-congratulation, as it actually makes others think less of them. This has become quite prevalent in the age of social media—a behavior that’s been coined ‘flexing’.

A Narcissism Statistics 2021 Research work reveals that these narcissists are not grandiose, but rather insecure, and this is how they seem to cope with their insecurities. More specifically, the results suggest that narcissism is better understood as a compensatory adaptation to overcome and cover up low self-worth.

Narcissists are insecure, and they cope with these insecurities by flexing. This makes others like them less in the long run, thus further aggravating their insecurities, which then leads to a vicious cycle of flexing behaviors.

The survey’s nearly 300 participants—approximately 60 percent female and 40 percent male—had a median age of 20 and answered 151 questions via computer.

The researchers examined Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), conceptualized as excessive self-love and consisting of two subtypes, known as grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. A related affliction, psychopathy, is also characterized by a grandiose sense of self. They sought to refine the understanding of how these conditions relate.

There are so many unanswered questions as regards narcissistic statistics and awareness but an NPD test is a quick way to help in the research for NPD treatments and prevention.

Narcissism statistics 2020

Narcissism statistics 2020. The coronavirus pandemic gave some narcissists a chance to bask in the admiration of others, a new study suggests. A lot of people with narcissistic personality disorder showed out their traits in different ways. Most were frustrated with guidelines and they flouted them at any given opportunity.

It found that narcissists who were essential workers — including those in restaurants and retail stores — love their “hero” status.

“The word ‘hero’ is a trigger for narcissists,” explained study co-author Amy Brunell, an associate professor of psychology at Ohio State University.

Having their work elevated to hero status provides them with an opportunity to shine in front of others and feel even better about themselves.

Narcissism Statistics 2020. Researchers conducted two online studies — one in the UK and one worldwide — that included a total of 312 people who said they were essential workers during the pandemic. Working in a convenience/grocery store was the most common type of job among the participants.

Essential workers who scored higher on measures of narcissism shared more about their work on social media, in-person, and elsewhere, and this sharing increased their narcissistic feelings at the moment, according to the study.

The results were published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. People with high scores on two specific types of narcissism — communal and agentic — were more likely than others to share about their work.

Communal narcissists think they are better than others at being helpful — they are more likely to strongly agree with statements like “I will be known for the good deeds I will have done.”

Agentic narcissists are those typically envisioned by people when they think of narcissism. They strongly agreed with statements like “I will usually show off if I get the chance.”

It is easy to see why people who score higher on communal narcissism would enjoy being known as essential workers and want to share their experiences on Facebook and Instagram.

They think they are the best at being helpful and caring for others. The pandemic gave them a chance to stand out.

Agentic narcissists don’t usually like to share the limelight, but likely enjoy the attention and the status boost they get from being called a hero.

That’s why they likely shared about their work. Their ‘hero’ status gave them a way to feel admired and distinct from others

Root cause of narcissism

Root cause of narcissism. There’s no single cause of NPD. But, researchers agree that both genetic and environmental causes are at play. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder have been found to have less volume of gray matter in the left anterior insula, the part of the brain related to empathy, emotional regulation, compassion, and cognitive functioning.

According to our narcissistic statistics study, It can be hard to resist the confidence, assertiveness, and excitement that surrounds a person with a narcissistic personality disorder.

But those same traits that drew you to that person in the first place may eventually become a turnoff when you start to notice the impact of their unemotional response to relationships, the cruelty of their lack of empathy for others, and the grandiose belief they are greatly important and should be treated as such.

By definition, the root cause of narcissism shows through personality disorders and are developed over time and through childhood experiences, genetics, and the environment. Note that as an adult, narcissistic traits on their own are not likely to develop into a personality disorder. Often, NPD will begin in the teenage years or early adulthood.

Personality disorders are typically diagnosed at 18 years or older, according to studies. The thing to keep in mind with kids is that some narcissistic traits are simply just typical of their age (teenagers by definition are self-absorbed), and it doesn’t mean they’ll go on to develop a full-blown disorder.

Scientists believe that the full onset of NPD may occur when interpersonal development is compromised, for example:

Being born with an oversensitive temperament
Learning manipulative behavior from parents or peers
Being excessively praised for good behaviors and excessively criticized for bad behaviors
Suffering from severe childhood abuse or neglect
Inconsistent or unpredictable parental caregiving
Growing up with unrealistic expectations from parents
Being excessively pampered or overindulged by parents, peers, or family members
Being excessively admired with no real feedback to ground you with reality
Receiving excessive praise from parents or others focused on your looks or abilities

A narcissistic personality disorder is an inheritable psychological condition; research evidence of narcissistic statistics indicates that a person is more likely to develop NPD if said personality disorder occurs in the medical history of his or her family.

Often, NPD will begin in the teenage years or early adulthood. Personality disorders are typically diagnosed at 18 years or older

Narcissism is driven by insecurity, and not an inflated sense of self finds a new study, which may also explain what motivates the self-focused nature of social media activity. Narcissism is driven by insecurity, and not an inflated sense of self, which finds a new study by a team of psychology researchers.

How many narcissists are there in the UK?

How many narcissists are there in the UK? Most of us will likely demonstrate some narcissistic tendencies from time to time, healthy narcissism can actually be adaptive and beneficial. However, if these behaviours are extreme and inflexible then Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) may be diagnosed.

How many narcissists are there in the UK? It is believed that only 1 – 6 percent of adults in the UK have a diagnosis of NPD, which is more common in men than women.

Life for a narcissist really is all about them. While most of us have some narcissistic traits, we all try to get our own needs met and lots of people are selfish, the true narcissist can’t see things from anyone else’s perspective but their own.

So, how can you know if the person you’re dating is a narcissist? These are narcissist traits and behaviours to look out for.

Integrative counsellor Katharina Wolf explains that narcissism is a personality disorder (NPD) that is often misunderstood. “Unlike the common belief that a narcissist is someone who is egotistical and loves themselves most (Narcissus who fell in love with himself comes to mind).

It takes more to be diagnosed as a narcissist; a person would need to have five of the nine identifying characteristics according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).”

Gaslighting is a major emotional abuse technique narcissists commonly use to “destabilise someone’s self-esteem, making them question their own sanity and perception of events”, she adds.

“For example, they might meet up with their ex-partner, and when questioned deny that it happened, accusing you of being jealous, not trusting them, and cheating on them yourself, because why would you be suspicious otherwise? Often, after an argument, you will be the one who has to apologise even though you are the injured party.”

Narcissistic personality disorder test

Narcissistic personality disorder test. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) symptoms are more common than one may think. Some of the NPD symptoms can be motivating, but also protective to one’s self-image. Others, however, can be exploitative and manipulative. It is this confusing mix of adaptive and maladaptive traits that makes it so difficult to identify someone with NPD.

This narcissistic personality disorder test can be very useful to those who think they may have NPD and those who suspect someone of having NPD traits. This Narcissistic personality disorder test focuses on both the malignant and positive narcissism traits. Partaking in this test will enhance the research of narcissistic statistics and put chronic narcissism in check.

Besides a total score, this narcissistic personality disorder test also provides scores on the categories: Entitlement Rage, Hiding the Self, Exploitative, Grandiose Fantasy, Self-Sacrificing Self-Enhancement, Devaluing, and Contingent Self-Esteem.

The scores on these categories may help explain why you (or your friend) behave(s) the way you/they do. In general, the higher the score on the test, the more likely it is that someone meets the criteria for NPD, but this narcissistic personality disorder test cannot be used as a diagnostic tool. Please reach out to a professional in case you would like to be diagnosed properly. The Narcissistic Personality Disorder Test is as follows

Sometimes it’s easier to be alone than to face not getting everything I want from other people.

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When others get a glimpse of my needs, I feel anxious and ashamed.

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I want to amount to something in the eyes of the world.

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I need others to acknowledge me.

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When others don’t respond to me the way I would like them to, it is hard for me to still feel ok with myself.

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I can’t stand relying on other people because it makes me feel weak.

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It’s important I show people I can do it on my own, even if I have some doubts inside.

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I often fantasize about being recognized for my accomplishments.

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I help others in order to prove I’m a good person.

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I often fantasize about performing heroic deeds.

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I often find myself envying others’ accomplishments.

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I am disappointed when people don’t notice me.

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I try to show what a good person I am through my sacrifices.

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It irritates me when people don’t notice how good a person I am.

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It’s hard to feel good about myself unless I know other people like me.

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Everybody likes to hear my stories.

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Sometimes I avoid people because I’m concerned they won’t acknowledge what I do for them.

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I like to have friends who rely on me because it makes me feel important.

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I have been preoccupied with thoughts and concerns that most people are not interested in me.

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I often fantasize about being rewarded for my efforts.

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What percentage of narcissists are male?

What percentage of narcissists are male? Roughly 6% of the population has a narcissistic personality disorder. Research over the years has shown that it is also more prevalent in men than in women — 7.7% vs 4.8%.

However, the behaviours of male and female narcissists can differ. For example, more men than women troll people online, because it makes them feel superior to strangers.

All narcissists share certain traits. They are defined as people who have a grandiose idea of themselves, which simultaneously masks their low self-esteem. They present an inflated version of themselves outwards, which they believe is better than anyone around them, so they tend to treat others with contempt.

They are completely self-interested, and will only do something if they can see how it will benefit them.

However, what narcissistic people want to get from others differs between men and women, female narcissists are narcissistic about their looks, whereas, for men, it’s all about power and control.

If it’s a male narcissist, he is typically putting down his female partner and making her less powerful in order to make sure she stays with him. Whereas female narcissists, if they’re not happy with their partner, if they want more, they just go have an affair with somebody and find a more powerful partner.

This helps explain why there are more male narcissists.

Narcissistic men think “Men should make all the main choices in the family” and the mistaken impression still around today is that men should make all the decisions. They should be the head of the house. We idealise and make men superior.

“The Narcissist Next Door” by Jeffrey Kluger also explores this idea. Kluger writes that as society is still predominantly patriarchal, we are more likely to tolerate narcissism and aggressiveness from men than women.

Narcissists are not usually violent — they’re very good at controlling their emotions and manipulating others into looking like they are hysterical. They’re much more likely to use their brains to get their way, rather than physical force.

What percentage of narcissists are male? Male narcissists can dominate others via manipulation or games, whereas female narcissists use their sexual charm to get what they want. According to Psych Central, male and female narcissists also differ in how they react to other things.

Narcissists are fairly money-focused because they believe it gives them status and dominance over others. However, men will be preoccupied with obtaining money via any route, including theft from their own family, whereas women are more interested in excessively spending money — not necessarily their own.

However, for all their differences, narcissistic men and women have a lot in common, too. A large study from the University of Buffalo in 2015 analysed 31 years of research on narcissism. While there were differences, such as men scoring higher in leadership and authority traits, there was little difference in vanity, self-absorption, and attention-seeking.

Narcissistic relationship pattern

Narcissistic relationship pattern. Narcissists are in love with an idealized, grandiose image of themselves. In other words, they are in love with the way other people view them. This makes it difficult, or even impossible for them to truly love others.

Even though narcissists may be good at hiding their personality disorder, there are common narcissistic traits that give them away. If you are trying to spot a narcissist, look for the following narcissistic traits:

Grand Sense Of Self-Importance

Narcissists often believe that they are unique and superior to others. This makes them too good for ordinary things, wanting only to be associated with the upper class or high-status things. Not only do they believe this, but they often expect others to recognize their ‘superiority’ as well.

Sense Of Entitlement

In addition to being self-important, narcissists also have a sense of entitlement. They expect to be treated better than others and believe they have a right to get whatever it is that they want. Failure to have this entitlement fulfilled is often met with outrage and aggression.

Needs Constant Admiration

With a narcissist’s inflated sense of self-importance and entitlement, they may need constant admiration. They will go out of their way to surround themselves with people that will fulfill this need for admiration and praise. However, these people are carefully selected based on what they can do for the narcissist.

Demeans, Belittles, Or Intimidates Frequently

Narcissists tend to be easily threatened by individuals who have something they lack or those who challenge them. Their response to threat is to begin putting the other person down, often in a dismissive or patronizing way. Sometimes it may even devolve into bullying and threats. Anything to reduce the threat and get the narcissist’s sense of “superiority” restored.

Guilt-Free Exploitation Of Others

Lack of empathy is one of the main traits of narcissistic personality disorder. Because they cannot identify with others’ feelings, it’s common for them to treat others as objects rather than human beings. They are quick to take advantage of someone if it means they can achieve their own objectives.

The Narcissistic Relationship Pattern

Most relationships with a narcissist follow a specific cycle with three main stages: idealization, devaluation, and discard. These stages are defined by how they treat their partner to get what they want out of them.

Idealization Stage

When you get into a relationship with a true narcissist, the relationship tends to move quickly. It’s common to feel as though you’ve known them your whole life or that they are the perfect person for you.

In a matter of weeks, a narcissist will begin taking the relationship forward. Many narcissists will use phrases like, “You’re my soulmate,” “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before,” or “We’ll be together forever,” in the first few weeks of dating.

Devaluation Stage

Once the relationship has moved forward and you believe that the relationship is meant to be, the true personality of a narcissist will start to show. While still showing you affection, they’ll begin putting you down and criticizing you more frequently in an attempt to chip away at your confidence.

They may use phrases like, “You’re so insecure,” or “You’re crazy.” They’ll also start to come between you and others you are close with by questioning whether they are more important than your friends or telling you that your friends aren’t good enough for you.

The devaluation stage is also where they will often develop a story that shows them as a victim of circumstances if their behavior is questioned, blaming it on an ex or their parents.

Discard Stage

Many times, once a narcissist can no longer get the emotional ‘high’ from their partner, the abuse intensifies. Insults become worse as the narcissist works to make sure they come out the “winner” of the relationship.

The relationship is over, but they continue to hurt their partner with insults such as, “You’re a bad person,” “Nobody else will ever love you,” or“Have fun being alone the rest of your life.”

Narcissistic Love Patterns

With most narcissists following a specific relationship cycle, there are common love patterns used by true narcissists. These narcissistic love patterns can be seen in both the idealization and devaluation stages of narcissistic relationships.

Being able to identify these love patterns can help you recognize the behavior so that you can take the necessary measures to protect yourself. If you suspect that your partner is a narcissist, here are some of the common narcissistic love patterns to watch out for.

Love Bombing

Love bombing is essentially a form of romantic manipulation. Research gathered from our narcissistic statistics shows that it is when you first get into a relationship and your new partner is constantly giving you extravagant displays of affection.

The narcissist will essentially bombard you with affection in an attempt to gain love and trust while also making you vulnerable.

This behavior often triggers an attempt to match the intensity of commitment in the relationship, even though the relationship is still relatively new. Common signs of love bombing include:

They always say just the right thing
The relationship is so flawless it doesn’t feel real
They are quick to say “I love you”
Everything is grand and over-the-top
They live for being the hero
They treat other people poorly

Laser Focus on You

They’re in constant communication with you. They text you and call you all the time. They want to know everything about you including all the bad things you’ve gone through in your life. At first, you may think that it’s nice that someone wants to get to know you. However, a true narcissist will keep getting you to talk about the bad times in your life. They’ll do this for several reasons.

If they can provide solutions for you, then they’ll look like a hero. However, it also gives them things to bring up later in the relationship to help tear you down. If these topics continue to be brought up, this could be a red flag that you’re in a relationship with a narcissist.

Subtle Warnings

Narcissists know who they are and what they are doing. Many times, they’ll give you subtle warnings. However, because they are intertwined with other compliments and acts of affection, it’s easy to say comments like, “You’re too good for me,” or “You deserve better,” and they are simply your partner being cute.

But the reality is that these simple phrases are often subtle warnings. If these comments are made often, it’s important to take these warnings seriously.

Seeking Sympathy Through Vulnerability

Once they know you’re committed to the relationship, a true narcissist will start to slowly chip away at your self-esteem and your confidence. If they are called out on their behavior, they’ll often share a story about why they are acting the way that they are, be it because of a parent, an ex, etc.

They’ll always be the victim of these stories which are often painful and traumatic. Showing themselves in a vulnerable position helps them strengthen your trust in them. If you are empathetic, you’ll likely want to help them ‘fix’ the hurt they are feeling. This can pull you deeper into the relationship and set you up with a difficult task.

Deflecting Responsibility

It’s almost never a narcissist’s fault. Whether it is their behavior or something that happened to them, a narcissist will likely never admit that they are responsible. Many times, responsibility is deflected back onto you. They’ll use this technique to convince you that your reaction is the problem and not their behavior.

They Pull Away and Come Back Again Repeatedly

With all the love-bombing at the beginning of the relationship, your partner has put you up on a pedestal. Then suddenly they become distant, disappearing for long stretches at a time. This results in you trying to figure out what you did wrong and make things right so that the relationship can go back to the way it was.

The whole process is heartbreaking. Then things go back to the way they were, until the next time. A true narcissist may do this repeatedly to keep you “addicted” to them. This can make it difficult to take the necessary steps to move on and leave the relationship.

What To Do If You’re In A Relationship With A Narcissist

Being in a relationship with a narcissist can be extremely challenging. However, there is hope. There are steps that you can take to strengthen your mental resilience in their psychological games.

See Them For Who They Truly Are

The first step in protecting yourself is to see who your partner truly is, not who you want them to be. It’s important to not make excuses for their bad behavior and the hurt they are causing you.

Focus On Your Own Dreams

Focusing on what you want for yourself can help give direction to your life. Knowing what you want from life can help you let go of unhelpful or unrealistic fantasies.

Set Healthy Boundaries

Your relationship should be established on mutual respect and care for one another, which is not possible with a narcissist. Set boundaries that will help protect you and fulfill your needs.

Be Prepared For Changes In The Relationship

A narcissistic partner will feel threatened by you taking back your control and will likely intensify their demands in other areas of the relationship or may distance themselves from you. Firmly sticking to your boundaries and standing strong is the key to breaking the narcissistic relationship cycle.

Spend Time With Friends and Family

Taking the time to strengthen your relationship with your friends and family can help you maintain perspective. Talk through your thoughts and your feelings with those who know the real you.

Find A Hobby Or Volunteer

Pursuing a new hobby or getting involved in volunteer work can give you a sense of purpose. It can also help you feel good about yourself, reducing your need for approval and validation from your narcissistic partner.

Join A Support Group

Sharing your experience with others who have found themselves in similar situations can help you sort your thoughts and find the strength to take the necessary steps to a healthier relationship.

Seek Help

Getting your narcissistic partner to admit that there is a problem or that the relationship could be benefited by getting professional help is likely a difficult task. This is largely due to their lack of empathy and their inherent reaction to deflect responsibility.

However, you don’t have to struggle with the complex emotions that come with being in a relationship with a narcissist. Talking with someone who won’t judge your decision to be with your partner, such as a licensed therapist, can help you process your emotions and build your mental resilience.

If you’ve never gone to counseling before, have a chaotic schedule, or are worried about what others will think, online counseling can be an effective alternative.

Narcissistic statistics conclusion

Narcissistic statistics conclusion. Imagine a country where everyone acts like a reality show contestant — obsessed with power, status, and appearance, and is comfortable manipulating others for their personal gain.

“I’m here to win, not make friends,” would be the national motto. You can look at individual scores of narcissism, you can look at data on lifetime prevalence of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, you can look at related cultural trends, and they all point to one thing-Narcissism is on the rise.

Narcissistic Statistics Conclusion. We all have narcissism, but in some cases, the perception of narcissism becomes extreme and pathological. Systematic research has shown that there are three subtypes typical of narcissistic personality disorder: the grandiose/oblivious, the vulnerable/hypervigilant, and the high-functioning subtype.

Both biological and psychological factors are at work, but the true cause of pathological narcissism has not been established. The psychotherapy of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is complicated and often frustrating because of the difficulty in engaging a person with narcissistic personality disorder in a psychotherapeutic process.

Suicide risk is not rare in patients with narcissism, particularly in the context of severe narcissistic injury, where the patient feels shamed and/or vilified. In conclusion, narcissistic patients are difficult to treat, but the risk of suicide makes it imperative for clinicians to stay involved in the treatment and assist the patient in understanding their vulnerabilities.

Narcissistic Statistics Personality Disorder Treatment

Treating narcissistic personality disorder can be challenging because people with the condition often don’t think that they have a problem. Prognosis is often poor as a result, and they’re currently not a standard protocol for treatment.

However, treatment usually consists of counseling or psychotherapy. Little research has been done on narcissistic personality disorder treatment, so its treatment success rate is not known yet.

Further reading

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