Malignant Narcissism – Traits, Signs, And Causes

by Ella Carrillo · December 8, 2023

Malignant narcissism is a term associated with those people who suffer from a personality disorder as well as an antisocial personality.

A malignant narcissist would usually display traits that include a desire to exploit others, a strong need for recognition, arrogance, betrayal, and selfishness. Malignant narcissists usually display traits related to antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. Thus malignant narcissism may widely affect relationships as it is generally untreatable.

What is Malignant Narcissism?

Though there is no formal diagnosis of malignant narcissism, an individual can be tagged as a malignant narcissist when they display traits, characteristics, and symptoms of Narcissistic Personality disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder. The term pathological narcissists may also be commonly used to describe malignant narcissists.

Malignant narcissists are said to have the most damaged relationships due to their traits and characteristics when equated to those of classic narcissists.

People with a Narcissistic personality disorder exhibit traits like being superior to others, grandiosity, a boosted sense of entitlement, excessive need for admiration, attention, and validation, a low tolerance for criticism, and an urge to establish control.

Whereas people who suffer from antisocial personality disorder, disregard others and their opinions and lack empathy, understanding, and respect. They exploit others to gain what they desire, cannot understand others, and may also engage in criminal behaviors.

Malignant narcissists display mixed traits of both personality disorders making it difficult for them to form and maintain healthy relationships.

Traits of Malignant Narcissism

Malignant Narcissists display combined traits and symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder. These combined traits lead to an acute form of pathology. Malignant Narcissism may affect individuals differently due to varying factors that include upbringing, personal beliefs, and degree of narcissism.

Some common traits of a malignant narcissist include,

Unreasonably high levels of aggression and rage towards others
Irrational suspicion or paranoia of others
Being extremely self-centered and having arrogance in abundance
Seeking acts of revenge often against those who oppose or criticize
Exploiting others by manipulating them for personal gains or even sadistic pleasure
Having unreasonable fantasies to obtain more power
Lack of conscience, remorse, or guilt for their actions
Disregarding the feelings, needs, and wishes of others to fulfill theirs
Being cruel and seeking pleasure through other people’s sufferings
Having a strong desire to gain more power

Signs of a Malignant Narcissist

Malignant narcissists often have dysfunctioning relationship dynamics. Their personal, work, or social relations are often damaged severely. Their behavioral traits like disregarding others, inability to form healthy relationships, recklessly vandalizing relationships based on their needs, or their constant manipulation make it a bit easy to spot them.

Some common signs of a malignant narcissist include,

They take revenge and hold grudges

A malignant narcissist may not let go of the hurt or may get easily offended when things do not go according to them. They do not leave the situation as is but seek revenge and make things even with others. They can not let go easily. Inherently, people with personality disorders tend to hold grudges for people who have wronged them.

Slightest criticism, feedback, or negative comments may act as a blow to the flame of their rage and they may punish others by seeking revenge, punishing them, ignoring them, or going no contact.

They are never at fault

Narcissists in general never accept their fault or hold accountability for the mishaps that have occurred due to them. They would not take the blame for their wrongdoings, even if their fault is clearly visible. They keep on defending themselves and making their case stronger by lying, manipulating, and deceiving others to believe what they say.

They do not have a conscience

Even if the narcissist may accept their fault in a few cases, they may never regret or feel guilty for what they might have done. They may also repeat the same if it benefits them as they lack conscience which leads to remorse and guilt. They may provide fake apologies if they have to just get what they want. They would never admit their wrongdoings unless they had to.

They Use, Abuse, and Discard People

A narcissist’s cycle of abuse is a never-ending cycle that traps the victim into a loop of lifelong trauma and abusive memories. Malignant narcissists may often get into this cycle of toxic relationships where they use people inappropriately. Malignant narcissists would quickly discard and find someone to fill the gap and obtain a narcissistic supply. This cycle continues in a loop, associating them with nasty, broken, and transactional relationships.

Everything is Perosnal for them

Malignant narcissists often take things personally when someone might make jokes about them, criticize them, forget to give a callback, or face rejection. When such instances take place in their life they face a Narcissistic Collapse. They have a notion that people should not question what they do, and should never judge them.

They are ruthless when it comes to personal pursuit

Narcissists desire power, success, wealth, fame, and recognition by hook or by crook. When they wish or want something they may cross every line, make things work, and achieve what they desire at the cost of other people’s emotions.

They have many nemesis

It should not come as a surprise when it is stated that the malignant narcissist has many arch nemesis, due to their traits and characteristics. The list of enemies might include exes, former friends, or even some family members who might have severed the relationship with them. Narcissists would not even blink before discarding someone as it is easy for them to break relationships.

What causes Malignant Narcissism?

There are not many rooted answers for the causes of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, but according to many research and analyses provided by psychologists, therapists, mental health and psychology experts, there are a few known key factors that can be the causes of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Heredity
Brain Mutations
Genetic transmission from parents to offspring
Parenting flaws
Acquiring through some arbitrator like friends, partner, or anyone influential enough in life

Some research suggests that the wiring of a narcissist’s brain is done differently, which leads them to behave certainly,

Some possible causes of malignant narcissism include,

Lack of self-awareness and self-reflection
Having the burden to fulfill exceptionally high expectations since childhood
Excessive focus on acquiring wealth, power, recognition, and status
Being excessively criticized or overly praised as a child
Learning and believing that failure is considered unacceptable and intolerable
Having an arrogant and aggressive personality
Learning and believing that vulnerability is the biggest weakness thus being an emotionless robot
Having a low tolerance or getting easily frustrated in the smallest and the most trivial matters
Continuously seeking praise, validation, and affirmation from others due to low self-esteem
Unable to regulate emotions and being overly emotional or no emotions at all
Gaslighting and Blaming others for possessing traits like entitlement, grandiosity, and other traits of a narcissist
Believing to be special and expecting such entitled treatment as even as a kid you might be told so
Experiencing neglect and abuse since childhood

How to Deal with Malignant Narcissists?

Dealing with narcissists is not an easy task and the closest people to them fall victim to their abuse. This results in them facing narcissistic abuse, manipulation, and gaslighting.

Narcissistic Abuse leaves its victims experiencing emptiness, deep scars, and a long-lost connection with other people as they have been isolated. Narcissists have a very negative impact on their partners and thus their partners find it hard to recognize genuine feelings once they are out of the toxic narcissistic cycle of abuse.

Here are a few ways to deal with malignant narcissists,

Limit your access – To minimize your risk of being exploited and harmed, you must keep interactions focused, short, and superficial.

Listen to them Talk – Malignant narcissists have an urge to be the elephant in the room, so being supportive of what they have to say about themselves may feed their need to exert validation and keep their aggression under the covers.

Understand what they want from you – If you figure out what is going on in their head, you may have time to figure out what you want to answer them. This will allow you to maintain your boundaries even if they try to breach them.

Practice self-care and keep your support system strong – When you have a narcissist in your life, your life will consist of negative energy and emotions as you may have to face abuse and manipulation constantly. So having a strong support system in the form of friends, family and any who cares deeply along with practicing self-care can help you protect yourself against the harsh effects of abuse.

Manage your expectations – Do not expect too much from them. Narcissists are selfish and they may never care how others would be affected by their behavior. So do not expect loving, caring, understanding, loyal, and fair treatment when you have a narcissist around.

Avoid oversharing and being vulnerable – Sharing too much information with them may provide one more chance to take advantage of your vulnerabilities. So keep your personal information, feelings, and emotions to yourself.

Understand their triggers – If you know what triggers their abusive behavior, you may be able to avoid that by not doing something that might trigger it. Do not cause them a narcissistic injury.

Identify the tactics they use against you – Knowing how they are manipulating and using you can help you figure out that they are clearly manipulating you.

Final Thoughts

Thus spotting the walking red flags with the help of these signs can help you limit or lessen your chances of getting involved with a malignant narcissist. Acknowledging yourself regarding narcissism and its type may also be a great help.

So watch out for yourself and keep a safe distance from the individuals who display the traits of malignant narcissism.

Author
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Ella Carrillo

Hey Reader, I am Ella, an Online and Offline Therapist holding an experience of 6 years in this field.

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.

Malignant Narcissism – Traits, Signs, And Causes

What is Malignant Narcissism?

Traits of Malignant Narcissism