What is the difference between a narcissist and a psychopath and can they have characteristics of both ?

Question

My narcissist has many characteristics of a psychopath.Is narcissism part of psychopathy? I need someone to clear this up for me. thanks

Answer 1

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: "The essential feature of Narcissistic PD is a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts." "Individuals in this disorder have a grandiose sense of self-importance....they believe they are superior, special, unique and expect others to recognize them as such....individuals in this disorder require excessive admiration...Their self-esteem is almost invariably very fragile."
undue dwelling on one's own self or attainments, love of or sexual desire for one's own body

Psychopath/Antisocial Personality Disorder: "The essential feature of Antisocial PD is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood."
"a mentally ill or unstable person; especially: one who has a poorly balanced personality and does not feel guilty about not living up to normal moral and social responsibilities".
Note: the term psychopath is not generally used in the Mental Health Field - it is a layman's term- Most psychopaths are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder- a good portion of your serial killers/mass murders are Psychopaths/antisocial.

Answer 2

A better question would be what is the difference between a narcissist and sociopath because a psychopath is really just a term for someone who is criminally insane. Both a narcissist and a psychopath's dispositions stem from the fact they lack empathy for others. A Narcissist is the perversion of the sanguine personality type when the sociopath is a perversion of the Choleric personality type. Choleric's can best be described as leaders when sanguine's can best be described as optimist's. Narcissist's to put it simply only care about themselves but do recognize the fact that people have their own goals and emotions, sociopaths on the other hand only care about themselves and can not comprehend the feelings of others at all.

Answer 3

A psychopath is someone who is cruel to others phsycially and/or emotionally and only feels regret when they are caught or punished. A narcissist is a person who has trouble recognizing others and can be quite attention driven.. Narcissists hurt others more emotionally through ignoring others and seeking all the attention and notice. Usually if someone is showing signs of both, you would say they are showing signs of a psychopathic deviant with narcisstic tendencies. These people can be very draining and if you know someone that is like that I would recommend that you part from them unless they are your family member in which I would have them seek treatment to modify their behavior

Answer 4

Narcissism is an "official" cluster B personality disorder, as classified by DSM- IV: "Narcissistic—grandiosity and a sense of social specialness, fantasies of ideal personal qualities or unlimited power, excessive entitlement and need for admiration, a tendency to exploit others, lack of empathy, arrogance and enviousness". Psychopathy, on the other hand, is not an "officially-recognized" DSM disorder, but it is probably related to the antisocial personality disorder

Answer 5

a narcissist is someone in love with themselves. The close types are psychopath and sociopath. A psychopath is a person who doesn't know the difference in right and wrong. A sociopath is someone who knows the difference but just doesn't care.

Answer 6

psychopath- A person with an antisocial personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse.

narcissist- A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem.

You make the difference.

Answer 7

Both conform to cultural stereo types, gender roles, social expectations. Both disorders seek to be punished. Both suffer of the need for attention to keep their ego supplied. Go to [e-mail]

Answer 8

narcissist: very vain person

psychopath: mind so screwed up that he is driven to kill

well, i guess you could have a narcissistic psychopath. one who is so obsessed with his looks that he is driven to kill anyone who doesnt like his looks.