Narcissists are often easy to identify. But some may have “ninja-level” narcissistic personality traits that make it easier for them to blend in and disguise themselves as “normal” people. A ninja narcissist refers to a covert introverted narcissist and here’s how to spot it.

Who is a narcissistic ninja?

A ninja narcissist is someone who displays their narcissism in very subtle, subtle, and camouflaged ways, much like a ninja. Although they may appear modest and shy on the outside, they suffer from covert narcissistic personality disorder and can cleverly hide their subtle narcissistic behaviors and sense of superiority and self-importance.

They are also known as introverted covert narcissists, closet narcissists, overly sensitive narcissists, and vulnerable narcissists. They tend to lack self-confidence and empathy and desperately crave attention and admiration.

Since ninja narcissists behave very differently from covert narcissists, you may not be able to identify them in your life. They tend to be very inhibitive in their behavior and approach, but they have the same effect as regular narcissists.

Professor, private trainer, and author of Preston NY MSPA. “This subtype of narcissism is more hidden,” he explains, “yet can carry the same self-conceit and negativity contagion as their extroverted counterparts.” This is why it is so important to learn how to spot their ninja traits so that you can see beyond their masks and protect yourself from their toxicity and negativity.

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Traits of the covert introverted narcissist

Here are some of the more common traits of a ninja narcissist that can help you identify these devious individuals who are secretly full of hidden toxicity:

They prefer small animals and attribute human characteristics or behavior to their pets
They are racists who believe they are better than others, especially other races
They have multiple addictions to keep themselves distracted from difficult feelings such as feeling insecure, sad, frustrated, and lonely
They are always late and they don’t take responsibility for their punctuality
They tend to withdraw or fall off the radar before someone identifies with their insecurities and hypocrisy
They are insanely jealous of successful people, even loved ones, and may express resentment or bitterness because they are overly insecure.
They are compulsive liars who can completely alter the narrative of true events to fit their own agenda. They can manipulate, rewrite, and erase past events to fit their lies.
They lack empathy or true feelings, but they may cry for their own selfish reasons, such as to get attention or win an argument.
They are unable to apologize because they do not believe they could be wrong or make a mistake. “Narcissists can never say, ‘I’m sorry,’ because they are never wrong,” explains Dr. Michael Morgan.
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Signs of Ninja Narcissists
Here are some of the most common and hard-to-notice ninja signs of a secretive introverted narcissist, who are often motivated by their inherent insecurities.

1. They have a hidden superiority complex
   Ninja narcissists have an underlying sense of arrogance and superiority. They can be very judgmental and tend to watch people closely while listening to them. Introverted narcissists prefer to calmly analyze others rather than speak about their opinions or actions. This makes them feel superior to others who are often hinted at by their annoyed, disapproving body language and their detachment.

When interacting, they may be judgmental and critical, appear bored, distracted, avoid eye contact, and be indifferent and dismissive in their nonverbal gestures. “This seemingly impenetrable arrogance is of course a façade that covers up a sense of vulnerability within. Part of the insecurity may be the inability to connect with people meaningfully as human beings,” Preston Ni adds.

2. They are very sensitive to criticism
   Poor self-esteem and insecurity are at the core of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). For narcissistic narcissists, their fears may manifest as a heightened sensitivity to criticism.

Although most of us don’t like being criticized, a covert introverted narcissist may react negatively and aggressively to criticism. They can become dismissive, angry, or resort to sarcasm to show that it doesn’t affect them, even in the case of constructive criticism. However, they may feel offended, empty, panicked, or angry inside.

This is because criticism shatters their false and idealistic beliefs about themselves and stirs up their deep-seated fears.

Related: How Do You Stop Being A Narcissist? 30 Ways To Overcome Narcissistic Tendencies

3. They ignore others
   Ignorance and procrastination are two of the most important tools in a narcissistic ninja’s armory. Because they are driven by a desire for self-importance over everything else, they can go to great lengths to become and remain the center of attention.

Instead of manipulating others like an extroverted narcissist, a covert introverted narcissist will refuse to acknowledge you. Like most narcissists, they surround themselves with compassionate and caring individuals and look for opportunities to manipulate them to enhance their sense of self-worth.

Because of their lack of empathy, they can easily show others disregard and how insignificant other people are to the narcissist.

Licensed professional counselor Jodi Clarke, LPC/MHSP writes, “Instead of telling you outright that you’re not important, they might stand up to you on a date, wait until the last minute to respond to texts or emails, always show up late to events with you, or just don’t make plans.” Absolutely confirmed with you.”

They will never appreciate your concern, opinion, or time that makes you feel irrelevant and unimportant.

4. They think they are special
   Almost all narcissistic people think they are special. But the covert introverted narcissist not only thinks they are special but is also misunderstood. They tend to think that they are so unique and preconceived that no one else understands them.

They often feel upset at being misunderstood by others, but this is simply a manifestation of common narcissistic traits, such as entitlement, grandiosity, and superiority. Preston Ni adds “By building the superficial belief that one is ‘exceptional,’ the introverted narcissist creates a reassuring role, submerging the fearful and vulnerable true self.”

5. They underestimate themselves
   Ninja narcissists tend to belittle themselves because they are so powerfully driven by the need for admiration and praise. Instead of bragging about their achievement or exaggerating their success, they tend to belittle it instead to make sure others praise them.

This is primarily related to internal self-esteem issues. Psychologist Dr. Morey Joseph says, “People with narcissism have to spend a lot of time making sure that they don’t feel bad feelings, that they don’t feel inferior, ashamed, limited, or small.”

This is why covert narcissists need others to make them feel better. They are overly dependent on others to boost their self-esteem and they achieve this by underestimating themselves.

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Hence, they tend to give backhanded compliments or act excessively modest about their accomplishments with the camouflaged goal of gaining praise, recognition, and flattery. This is a strategy for gaining external validation and reassurance of how great she is.

6. They are prone to depression
   Most Ninja narcissists tend to suffer from some mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. A 2017 study notes that “narcissism, and specifically poor presentation, has been associated with depression.” A covert narcissist may also be prone to feelings of emptiness as well.

Research reveals that people with vulnerable narcissism “may display distinct features of depression, depression, and anhedonia.” The primary causes for such depressive feelings stem from an inability to gain the desired outward admiration and frustration with public expectations. Furthermore, the fear of exposure or failure can lead to high levels of anxiety. Depression and emptiness can also lead to suicidal ideation.

7. They have difficult relationships
   Since ninja narcissists are highly insecure individuals, they are unable to build true emotional bonds with others. They are good at using isolation as a defense mechanism to distance themselves from people and avoid exposing their flaws.

Their arrogance helps them hide their personal weaknesses and use projects of work and passion as shields to avoid social contact. As a result, they often find it difficult to maintain relationships, which tend to be toxic and unhealthy.

“Because one of the hallmarks of narcissistic personality disorder is a lack of empathy, a covert narcissist will not respond emotionally to their partner in a healthy way,” explains Jodi Clarke, LPC/MHSP.

Related: The Dark Truth: What Lies Beneath The Mask Of A Narcissist

Protect yourself from ninja narcissism

Narcissists, whether they are extroverted narcissists or covert introverted narcissists are not necessarily evil people. It is a personality disorder that can be treated with the help of a mental health professional.

Although avoiding the narcissist is the best way to deal with them, if you have a loved one who has narcissistic traits, approach the situation sensitively, rather than ignore it.

Encouraging them to see a therapist is the first thing you should do when dealing with a narcissistic introverted family member or friend, especially if they are dealing with anxiety or depression.

However, it is also important to protect yourself from their covert tactics to manipulate and take advantage of you. Hence, you should set strong personal boundaries, limit the amount of personal information you share, and minimize your interactions with them, all the while offering a helping hand to recover.

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