Narcissist vs. Psychopath?

Question

What's the difference between narcissist and psychopath? They sound the same to me!

Answer 1

We all heard the terms "psychopath" or "sociopath". These are the old names for a patient with the Antisocial Personality Disorder (AsPD). It is hard to distinguish narcissists from psychopaths. The latter may simply be a less inhibited and less grandiose form of the former. Indeed, the DSM V Committee is considering to abolish this distinction altogether.
Still, there are some important nuances setting the two disorders apart:

As opposed to most narcissists, psychopaths are either unable or unwilling to control their impulses or to delay gratification. They use their rage to control people and manipulate them into submission.

Psychopaths, like narcissists, lack empathy but many of them are also sadistic: they take pleasure in inflicting pain on their victims or in deceiving them. They even find it funny!

Psychopaths are far less able to form interpersonal relationships, even the twisted and tragic relationships that are the staple of the narcissist.

Both the psychopath and the narcissist disregard society, its conventions, social cues and social treaties. But the psychopath carries this disdain to the extreme and is likely to be a scheming, calculated, ruthless, and callous career criminal. Psychopaths are deliberately and gleefully evil while narcissists are absent-mindedly and incidentally evil.
From my book "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited":

"As opposed to what Scott Peck says, narcissists are not evil – they lack the intention to cause harm (mens rea). As Millon notes, certain narcissists 'incorporate moral values into their exaggerated sense of superiority. Here, moral laxity is seen (by the narcissist) as evidence of inferiority, and it is those who are unable to remain morally pure who are looked upon with contempt.' (Millon, Th., Davis, R. - Personality Disorders in Modern Life - John Wiley and Sons, 2000). Narcissists are simply indifferent, callous and careless in their conduct and in their treatment of others. Their abusive conduct is off-handed and absent-minded, not calculated and premeditated like the psychopath's."

Psychopaths really do not need other people while narcissists are addicted to narcissistic supply (the admiration, attention, and envy of others).

Millon and Davis (supra) add (p. 299-300):

"When the egocentricity, lack of empathy, and sense of superiority of the narcissist cross-fertilize with the impulsivity, deceitfulness, and criminal tendencies of the antisocial, the result is a psychopath, an individual who seeks the gratification of selfish impulses through any means without empathy or remorse."

Answer 2

A narcissist is someone self-obsessed to the point of disorder, who doesn't build relationship with people, but "narcissitic supply", people who'll make them feel needed and good about themselves. Narcissists are not normally violent, but can be if you cause them a narcissitic wound by hurting them personally, such as contast rejection etc.

A psychopath is a more general term in common usage, where for a number of potential reasons the mind becomes disordered and the person highly stressed and prone to "snapping" even at small things and letting out rage towards it.

Answer 3

very very different

Narcissism is a personality disorder...also known as Napoleons Syndrome. There are lots of successful people in the world that live quite productively ... Donald Trump may be one of them.

Psychopathology ... if it's severe...is the stuff that quite frequently gets folks hospitalized and categorized as criminally insane.
Functional psychopaths on the streets *may* be those we see as street bums -
and there are hospitals that release psychopathic personalities because they are benign and treatable...if they stay on their meds they do pretty well...they lack some social skills but, if they have a good care provider ... they do okay.

Answer 4

The Narcissist is an individual who loves themselves, usually themselves alone. The are so enthralled with their appearance or what ever attribute they fixate on that they assume others see it and feel the same way. Psychopaths are as a rule not that in love with themselves and are more Sociopath with extreme behaviors and potentials that could harm individuals that encounter them.

Answer 5

SAM VATKIN - Narcissists also enjoy other peoples pain. SAm VAtkin even has a video on this on youtube. So you see, Narcissists are also psychopaths.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLPheQN-dAg

Answer 6

Narcissist would not hurt people,when form psychopath you newer know what to expect.

Answer 7

Well, your kind of close because there is a more than
fair amount of narcissism in the make up of a
psychopath, ( anti social ) personality,extremely
self centered and must be in absolute control.

Narcissus in Greek mythology saw himself when
he First looked into a lake,he fell in love with the
image and tried to kiss it,he fell in and drowned.

Answer 8

Narcissism is a personality disorder. Psychopath is a very general term for someone with psychological problems.

Answer 9

the difference is between God and Satan. think about that one, and figure it out...

Answer 10

You're kidding, I hope.