Narc.

Learning to spot Malignant Narcissism

One of the most important life skills we can develop is the ability to recognize and steer clear of Malignant Narcissists. This has been a giant rabbit hole for me to explore. I used to think a narcissist was just a jerk who thought highly of himself. I’ve since learned they can be far more insidious. In many cases, they closely resemble sociopaths, and they share a long list of over-lapping, dangerous traits, including:

• Lacking empathy
• Exploiting others for personal gain
• Lying and manipulating
• Showing little to no remorse or guilt
• Exhibiting aggressive or controlling behavior

Where they tend to differ from sociopaths is that they are:
• Grandiose and obsessed with power
• Vindictive and hold grudges
• Paranoid, believing others are out to get them
• More emotionally volatile, whereas a classic sociopath tends to be more cold, calculated and remorseless

Both malignant narcissists and sociopaths are highly likely to rise to positions of power, especially in environments that reward ambition, manipulation, and charisma. Malignant narcs crave admiration, status, and dominance while sociopaths enjoy manipulating systems or people for personal gain, they see life as a game and people exist as pawns to be played with.

Both can be charming and persuasive, they know how to read people and say exactly what others want to hear. They know how to leverage relationships to climb ladders, often using others as stepping stones.

Common Fields Where Both Can Excel:
• Politics
• Corporate leadership
• Entertainment/media
• Religious institutions
• Military or law enforcement
• Even nonprofits or activist circles (yep, wolves in sheep’s clothing)

Once in power they tend to:
• Gaslight critics, smear opponents
• Surround themselves with yes-men
• View ethics as obstacles
• Cause massive damage while appearing "successful"

Malignant narcissism is quickly becoming a major topic, especially on social media, as more people recognize the emotional and psychological abuse they experienced follows a clear pattern linked to this personality type. They seek refuge, understanding and answers, and they find the pool of people who have experienced something very similar to them is vast.

This is why it’s crucial to stay informed and proactive - so we can recognize these patterns and protect ourselves. Kind-hearted, decent people often let their guard down around malignant narcs and sociopaths, simply because they assume others think and feel the way they do. When someone comes across as charming, likable, or just a “great person,” it’s easy to be deceived by the mask they wear.

Most people believe in and abide by the Golden Rule and live and let live. Malignant narcs and sociopaths realistically make up a very small percentage of the population, but they do an incredible amount of damage. Maybe this is partially due to their ability to attain levels of power and influence, where their manipulation can affect countless lives. Honestly, it seems like nearly everyone I know has a personal story involving one of these destructive personalities. Good people are at a disadvantage because they can't fathom the deception and lack of empathy these people possess.

Stay protected out there, folks!