Covert narcissism is a mental illness characterized by lack of empathy, an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and a willingness to exploit others. Patients exhibit unique behaviors such as petty lying and disrespect for authority. The disorder is rooted in feelings of inferiority and distrust, leading to envy and cynicism. Covert behavior is seen when the patient’s shell of shyness, anxiety, and insecurity is broken. Diagnosis is easily made using narcissistic scales and scoring systems.
Covert narcissism is a mental illness characterized by specific maladaptive personality traits. The Greek myth about Narcissus, after whom the ailment is named, tells the story of a strikingly handsome man who rejected all women who adored him and then fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. The modern psychiatric definition still ties into the myth and is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as recognized primarily by the patient’s lack of empathy for other people, an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and a willingness to exploit others for personal gain, even if the gain is merely emotional. Patients with covert narcissism, compared to their overt narcissistic counterparts, exhibit some unique behaviors associated with covert designation. For example, covert types are prone to petty, pathological lying and disrespect for authority.
Some mental health practitioners believe that feelings of inferiority and distrust of other people may be some of the core beliefs that help build this personality type. These roots, and other related factors, contribute to some covert narcissistic clients being obsessed with and envious of others’ possessions, relationships, and talents. This exaggerated and hidden admiration for the successful lifestyles of others tends to lead to cynicism and a deep general dislike for the majority of the population. The patient will go to great lengths to protect his perceived self-esteem. Almost paradoxically and in contrast to many laymen’s view of narcissism, many covert-type patients have severely damaged and diminished self-esteem.
The current type of “covert” behavior that is characteristic of this disorder can be seen when the patient’s shell of shyness, anxiety and insecurity is broken. This often happens with a therapist or friend who forms an intimate relationship and learns through conversation and activity that the patient has varying degrees of delusional and grandiose ideals about himself and his position in life. Seemingly malicious and generally hostile talk about others, sometimes coupled with plots or schemes to undermine the lives of others or cause them emotional or physical distress, is common conversational content when talking to narcissistic patients.
Paul Wink of the University of California-Berkley says both types of narcissistic patients are often easily diagnosed using narcissistic scales and scoring systems because their oral reports tend to be boisterous and proud when talking about themselves. Patients with covert narcissism can seem extraordinarily knowledgeable about an overwhelming number of subjects. However, when a friend or therapist approaches the individual, many of the person’s intellectual anecdotes may be obsessively repeated, and knowledge of some topics may be classified as mere memorized curiosity.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
