Do Narcissistic Traits Wane As People Age?
Do Narcissistic traits wane as people age? Narcissism is not some disease that is transmitted overnight, but it is a mental health disorder that is ingrained into an individual’s behavior and mannerisms over time.
So, the prevalence and intensity of these narcissistic traits can gradually be subtle and also wane with time, but these traits may never go away completely.
Yet there is no guarantee that these traits wane as people age. Waning of certain traits is a phenomenon that may happen to many people, but these traits may never go away completely.
So let us understand what narcissism is and what a narcissist is.
Understanding Narcissism
Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition that is medically and clinically diagnosable to tag someone as a narcissist. Narcissists have unreasonably higher sense of self so much so that they might not care about anything else but themselves.
So if you are living with a narcissist you must understand how their psychology works. They have a stronger sense of self due to traits like feeling entitled, having grandiose self-esteem, a need for validation and praise, and an urge to manipulate people around them for their benefit.
They may never accept their behavior to be abusive, and they may always play the victim when you point out the obvious. They may also hurt you emotionally for confronting them, as they lack empathy. Due to their personality traits, they may be unable to understand other people’s perspectives and thus end up hurting them frequently. They may never understand other people’s feelings, emotions, and viewpoints.
NPD(Narcissistic Personality Disorder) or Narcissism is related to portraying some common toxic traits in an intensified state than others. In psychological terms, narcissists who suffer from NPD(Narcissistic Personality Disorder) portray these emotions and traits in a greater magnitude than others. These emotions include a boosted sense of self-importance, inflated self-worth, and a constant need for admiration, adoration, and validation.
Some level of narcissism can be considered normal and may also be beneficiary in certain aspects of life as narcissistic traits like competitiveness but maintaining a healthy competition, the desire to be better, but not by ruining other people’s goals and achievements, promoting self-growth but not at the cost of other people’s well being and so on.
But when narcissism starts affecting your well-being, relationships, and quality of life, it may be dangerous and considered unhealthy.
What is a Narcissist?
A narcissist is someone who suffers from a mental health disorder that affects their life so much that it may hinder them and the people around them too. Narcissism is a mental health disorder in which people have an inflated sense of self, a lack of empathy, a constant need for admiration, adoration, and validation, have deep-rooted insecurities and project them onto others to feel fulfilled, resist negatively to criticism and are emotionally dependent on others.
Some Narcissistic traits include,
- Narcissists are manipulative
- They are selfish and always think for themselves first
- They would exploit others for personal gains
- They lack empathy
- They have a desire to associate with people who have a higher status and are well off financially
- They have a boosted sense of self-importance
- They have a sense of entitlement
- Are arrogant
Now that little is known about narcissism and narcissistic personalities, let us understand how these traits are pervasive in an individual’s thought processes and mannerisms as they age.
Do Narcissistic Traits wane as people age?
As people age, they gain an insight into themselves and also develop a greater understanding of the world around them. Thus there is also a possibility that their narcissistic traits can be reduced and the intensity can be toned down.
Age can act as a mirror for people that can help them develop a more realistic self-image and be more thorough with their feelings and emotions. As people age, seeking external validation becomes less important, but with narcissists, this is not guaranteed.
Narcissists thrive upon attention, admiration, and validation, which is their narcissistic supply. So with age, it cannot be guaranteed that their need to seek their narcissistic supply will slow down or go away.
With age, people also become compassionate and caring, but this cannot necessarily happen with narcissists, as they lack empathy, which is the core emotion to connect emotionally with other people.
Generally as people age, due to physical and psychological changes taking place, a person would change, but the question that has been intriguing for all researchers, and psychology experts is does age affects the impact of narcissism on a person. “Do Narcissistic Traits wane as people age?”
A study published in 2020 in the Journal Personality and Individual Differences stated that narcissistic traits tend to wane with age. This study followed a few samples of adults who were 19 years and above. Thus this study concluded that with age, older individuals displayed mellowed-down narcissistic traits as compared to young adult individuals.
To gain more meaningful insights regarding the topic here is another study to make the basis stronger,
A study published in 2018 in the journal Aging and Mental Health provided a conclusion by examining narcissistic traits in a sample of older adults. The study suggested that narcissistic traits were still present in older adults but the intensity was lesser, or the narcissistic traits were less pronounced.
The research concluded based on the observation that said that older adults become more focused on the positive side of building and maintaining healthier relationships, maintaining a positive approach, and focusing on socializing while lessening their self-centered needs.
Thus these studies can be a validation to claim the fact to be true that narcisistic wane as people age. One of the reasons for these studies to be true is that people tend to become more aware of their mortality as they are confronted by the reality of life and their limitations. Such confrontations can lead to a more realistic view of oneself.
As people age, they become more connected and focused on their relationships which can also be one of the reasons that narcissistic traits can be tempered to maintain those relationships.
Some individuals may prioritize relationships, values, and their loved ones over deploying their narcissistic traits and losing all these. So when a person with narcissistic person prioritizes family, emotional connection and well-being, and a healthy family over their self-centered desires of control, power, monetary possessions, or status, this priority shift leads to a reduction in narcissistic tendencies.
Narcissistic traits may or may not wane with age as the waning process also depends on factors including social environmental and individuality of that individual. It may also be affected by their upbringing.
All these being said, it is important to note that not all older narcissists may subtle down with age, meaning not all individuals may experience a decrease in narcissistic tendencies. Some individuals may choose to remain toxic and abusive throughout their lives, and some individuals can become even more inclined to narcissistic traits as they age.
This happens because,
An aging narcissist may lose their ability to control people, as they may face limitations in the form of changes in their physical health.
Their thoughts may also change, as these changes may amplify their negative emotions. This can be reflected in their behavior too. They can become more bitter, furious, defensiveness, meaner, and emotionally disconnected from others.
Narcissists can lose interest in the things they once liked, suffer mood swings, and also their social image can be perceived differently. Thus these changes can be huge for some narcissists and thus their rage can be at its peak when they age.
For most narcissists, narcissism may wane with age. According to studies and research provided by experts, the magnitude and impact of narcissistic traits may wane but the traits may not go away completely.
The Aging Narcissist – Do they mellow down with age?
The bitter truth about narcissistic traits is that they do not go away with age. There may not be any significant changes in narcissistic behavior and abuse as narcissists age.
While some narcissists may forge the subtle, their real personality may not be able to accept the changes. Thus they may not mellow down out of realization, due to environmental factors.
It is also important to note that some narcissists may also mellow down with age out of guilt, remorse, and resentment.
There may certainly be a few changes in narcissistic behavior, but these changes may not be significant. The aging process may not be able to bring fundamental changes in their behavior.
The relationship between narcissism and aging is complex. However, the important thing is that not all narcissists become closed-minded, inflexible, and difficult and thus the relationship between aging, and narcissism can vary depending upon the degree of narcissism and personality development of individuals.
In Conclusion
The bitter truth about narcissistic traits is that they do not go away with age. There may not be any significant changes in narcissistic behavior and abuse as narcissists age.
Narcissism is not some disease that is transmitted overnight, but it is a mental health disorder that is ingrained into an individual’s behavior and mannerisms over time.
So, the prevalence and intensity of these narcissistic traits can gradually be subtle and also wane with time, but these traits may never go away completely.
Yet there is no guarantee that these traits wane as people age. Waning of certain traits is a phenomenon that may happen to many people, but these traits may never go away completely.
From Relationship, Depression, and Personality Disorder to Narcissistic problems, I have helped a lot of people find their solutions. Upon gathering a number of common problems that people face, I decided to put the information on this blog so that anyone can get their answers easily.
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