Due to the frequent media attention it has received over the past few years, the mental illness known as “narcissistic personality disorder” (NPD) has entered the public consciousness with increasing emphasis.
While terms like “narcissism” and “narcissism” are commonly used these days, few people understand what pathological narcissism is. What’s more, few people are aware of the most common and potentially dangerous features of NPD, which are “narcissistic injury” and “narcissistic rage.”
In the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), narcissistic personality disorder is defined as a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), a persistent need for admiration, and a lack of empathy, beginning in early adulthood and presenting in a variety of contexts, and indicating the presence of at least five of the following nine criteria:
An exaggerated sense of self-importance
Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
A belief that he or she is special and unique and can only be understood or associated with special or high-status people or institutions
A need for excessive admiration
A sense of entitlement
Interpersonal exploitative behavior (using others to achieve one’s ends)
A lack of empathy
Envy of others or a belief that others are envious
Exhibition of arrogance and haughtiness Arrogant behaviors or attitudes
Keep in mind that to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, a person must have only five of these traits. However, many pathological narcissists are well above the diagnostic threshold—meaning that all nine criteria don’t apply to them alone. At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have a hard time dealing with anything they perceive as criticism. They must always be right, declare that they know more than they do, never take responsibility for their wrongdoings, and always blame others for their mistakes. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is why:
Being impatient or angry when they don’t get special treatment
Having significant interpersonal issues and being easily offended
Reacting angrily or contemptuously and trying to belittle the other person to make themselves seem superior
Having difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
Having significant problems coping with stress and adjusting to change
Feeling depressed and moody because they fail to achieve perfection
Having covert feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability, and humiliation
As suggested above, what the Mayo Clinic and most other legitimate and reliable sources of psychological information fail to adequately emphasize in the diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder is what is called “narcissistic injury” and “narcissistic rage.”
In short, narcissistic injury occurs when the narcissist feels that his or her self-esteem or self-worth has been threatened. Narcissistic rage is the narcissist’s response to narcissistic injury.
In other words, narcissistic injury occurs when the narcissist feels that his or her hidden “true self” has been exposed. Because their true selves are so insecure, envious, deceitful, manipulative, and incapable of empathy, they deeply resent having a mirror held up to them. Thus, when their hidden flaws, manipulative tactics, or insincere behaviors or motivations are exposed—or when their worth is questioned—they feel hurt and react with anger. Narcissistic rage occurs along a continuum, which can range from passive-aggressive isolation and expressions of discomfort or annoyance to serious outbursts, including extreme antisocial behavior such as violent attacks and even murder in rare cases. Narcissistic rage is thus the uncontrollable anger that results from a narcissistic injury—a threat to the narcissist’s self-esteem or worth.
Although rage comes in many forms, it is almost always associated with a desire to get back at the person who has harmed them. Narcissists with severe Narcissistic Personality Disorder will use every resource and means at their disposal to exact revenge. Because that is the only way they can appear to be a “winner.” The need to be a “winner” is perhaps the most fundamental factor that shapes the personality and drives the lives of extreme narcissists. Narcissistic rage is extremely dangerous, even among typical narcissists. Unfortunately, as I have written in my blog before, there is anecdotal evidence that narcissists are drawn to certain professions where they can satisfy their insatiable appetite for admiration and amass power to wield over others. Not surprisingly, the professions that primarily attract narcissists are politics, the financial services industry, and large corporations. Imagine how devastating narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic rage can be to someone who wields the power of a Fortune 500 CEO or holds the highest elected office in the federal government. We only need to look at people like Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, or tyrants like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, to peek through that keyhole.
