Narcissism

13 Common Behaviors and Values of Narcissistic People

How to identify narcissism in those around you.

Posted June 30, 2021 | Reviewed by Devon Frye

Key points

People with narcissistic personalities may behave differently than non-narcissists, such as shunning introspection and denying mistakes.
Narcissists may also have different values than non-narcissists, such as status and image as opposed to compassion and authenticity.
Identifying the destructive behaviors that characterize narcissism can help people recognize and cope with narcissistic people.

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If you have a person with high levels of narcissism in your life, it is more likely that you will become exhausted, overwhelmed, or confused than it is that the narcissist will change.

People with a narcissistic style or diagnosable narcissistic personality disorder stubbornly cling to their psychological defenses and rarely cease promoting their own image. Over time, you may become inured to how extreme and costly their actions are.

That's why it is important to do a reality check on narcissistic behaviors as opposed to healthier behaviors.

Differences in Behavior

Characteristics of Narcissists:

Shun introspection
Lack empathy
Become hypersensitive to slights
Act impulsively
Spoil others’ good moods
Deny or hide mistakes
Are driven by fear
Blame others
Stonewall or withdraw when upset
Get enraged when criticized
Pursue win-lose strategies
Hold grudges
Have one-way relationships

Characteristics of Non-Narcissists:

Value introspection
Care about the feelings of others
Don’t personalize others’ actions
Seek spontaneity
Celebrate others’ good moods
Seek to learn from mistakes
Cultivate hope
Take responsibility
Communicate when upset
Accept constructive criticism
Seek win-win solutions
Seek resolution
Have reciprocal relationships

Narcissistic behaviors such as those listed above are generally designed to disguise insecurities. Some behaviors, like avoiding introspection, denying mistakes, stonewalling, or blaming others, seek to shine the spotlight away from a narcissist's perceived flaws.

Others, such as spoiling others' good moods, holding grudges, and being hypersensitive to slights and criticism, are designed to put others on the defensive in hopes that others will be less likely to challenge a narcissist's fragile ego and shaky self-image.

Still others, such as having one-way relationships or lacking empathy, reflect the difficulties narcissists have in engaging in anything other than superficial or transactional relationships.

Differences in Values

The contrast between people with narcissism and healthier individuals is also striking in what they value.

Values of People with Narcissism:

Perfection
Get attention from others
Superiority
Winning
Status
Image

Values of Non-Narcissists:

Growth
Connect with others
Equality
Fairness
Compassion
Authenticity

Narcissists hold values such as perfection, winning, superiority, and status in the hope that doing so will bring them greater attention and approval. Their values, like their behaviors, tend to be self-aggrandizing, as opposed to more inclusive values such as connection, compassion, and authenticity held by non-narcissists.

Recognizing how different the behaviors and values of narcissistic people are can give rise to four valuable questions:

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Do you allow people with narcissism to treat you differently than you let others treat you?
If so, why?
What is the cost?
Is it worth it?

The answers to these questions can lead you to set healthier boundaries with people who are narcissistic.

As with most personality disorders, narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by distorted views of one's self, others, and the world. By seeing such distortions, and then identifying and staying true to your values, you can hold your own in the face of narcissistic people and behavior.

A version of this post also appeared on PsychCentral.com