670 Personality Disorders
6. Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own
ends).
7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
Diagnostic Features
The essential feature of narcissistic personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of grandi-
osity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy that begins by early adulthood and is pres-
ent in a variety of contexts.
Individuals with this disorder have a grandiose sense of self-impor tance (Criterion 1).
They routinely overestimate their abilities and in flate their accomplishme nts, often appearing
boastful and pretentious. They may blithely assume that others attribute the same value to
their efforts and may be surprised when the prai se they expect and feel they deserve is not
forthcoming. Often implicit in the inflated ju dgments of their own accomplishments is an un-
derestimation (devaluation) of the contributions of others. Individuals with narcissistic per-
sonality disorder are often preo ccupied with fantasies of unlimit ed success, power, brilliance,
beauty, or ideal love (Criterion 2). They ma y ruminate about “long overdue” admiration and
privilege and compare themselves favora bly with famous or privileged people.
Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they are superior, spe-
cial, or unique and expect others to recogniz e them as such (Criterion 3). They may feel
that they can only be understood by, and sh ould only associate with, other people who are
special or of high status and may attribute “unique,” “perfect,” or “gifted” qualities to those