Diagnostic Criteria
The DSM-IV-R1 provides the following set of diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder:A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
- Has grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
- Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
- Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
- Requires excessive admiration
- Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
- Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
- Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
- Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
The person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder has
- Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
In the workplace, this individual may experience difficulties due to their intolerance for criticism and competition.
- vulnerable self- esteem
- reacts intensely to perceived humiliation
- experiences feelings of emptiness
- outwardly appears disdainful of criticism and defeat
Although they may appear self-confident, even haughty, this person may
Ronningstam2 and Cooper3 both describe a number of commonly seen clinical presentations of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
- be inwardly experiencing feelings of deep shame
- subject themselves to severe self-criticism
- be prone to withdraw socially due to fear of competition and/or criticism
Click on these links to learn more about
The Arrogant/Overt Narcissist
For a chart comparing the DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, and DSM-IV-R diagnostic criteria for NPD, click here
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