The Dangers of Malignant Narcissism – Understanding the Traits and Behaviours

Malignant Narcissism is a personality disorder that is a combination of Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder. It manifests as a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, along with a tendency to exploit others for personal gain.

Malignant Narcissists often have a strong desire for power and control, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. They will charm and manipulate those around them to achieve their goals, and they will turn on those who do not support them.

Malignant Narcissists lack empathy and are unable to understand or care about the feelings of others. They engage in behaviours that are hurtful or even dangerous to those around them, and feel little or no remorse for their actions.

The Malignant Narcissist

There are several key traits and behaviours that are associated with Malignant Narcissism. These include:

Malignant Narcissism Traits – Grandiosity

The grandiosity associated with malignant narcissism is based on a disproportionate level of self-importance that surpasses the norm of healthy self-confidence. Malignant narcissists believe they are above others and that they deserve admiration simply because of who they are.

They often exaggerate their talents or accomplishments, and may even fabricate achievements to get the attention and admiration they crave. These narcissists will scheme and manipulate people to receive constant recognition or accolades, and feel entitled to special treatment because of their perceived inherent superiority.

They will also feel a sense of righteous anger when they perceive that someone has failed to recognize their superiority. Similarly, they may feel threatened by anyone who challenges their sense of superiority, or who presents a threat to their positive self-image.

This exaggerated sense of self-importance sets the stage for malignant narcissists to view others as inferior or unworthy. They often talk down to people, belittle their accomplishments, or even openly insult or demean them.

The problem with this grandiose self-image is that it is often at odds with reality. Malignant narcissists are unable to recognize their own flaws or weaknesses, and invariably unwilling to listen to feedback or criticism. They become defensive or angry when anyone contradicts them, and will lash out or punish those who try to challenge their sense of superiority.

This sense of entitlement and superiority can also lead malignant narcissists to become highly competitive. They feel the need to constantly prove themselves to others, and will engage in cutthroat tactics to gain an advantage over their competition. The need to win at all costs can sometimes lead to behaviours that are harmful or unethical.

Malignant Narcissism Traits – Lack of empathy

Empathy is often considered one of the most important skills in building and maintaining healthy relationships. However, malignant narcissists do not recognize or even care about the feelings of others. This lack of empathy is a core characteristic of malignant narcissism, and it is often the reason why these individuals have trouble maintaining healthy relationships.

Malignant narcissists view other people as mere objects to be used for their own gain, rather than as individuals with their own feelings, desires, and needs. They will ruthlessly exploit or manipulate others without a care about the impact of their actions.

This becomes particularly problematic when the malignant narcissist is in a position of power, such as a boss, politician, or leader. In such situations the malignant narcissist will take advantage of those under their authority, treating them as detachable cogs in their machinations and manipulations.

In addition, the malignant narcissist will also engage in behaviours that are harmful, dangerous, or neglectful towards others. For instance, they may engage in behaviours that put others at risk such as driving dangerously, or breaking laws without considering the consequences for those around them.

Malignant Narcissism Traits – Exploitation

Because of their self-absorbed nature, malignant narcissists put their own needs and desires ahead of others, even if it means taking advantage of those around them. They will use any means necessary to achieve their goals, including means that are unethical or illegal.

One of the most common ways that malignant narcissists take advantage of others is by using manipulation tactics. They are skilled at playing the victim, or making others feel guilty for not giving them what they want. In addition, they often resort to gaslighting tactics to make others doubt their own perceptions or beliefs. They may twist the truth or fabricate information to get others to act in ways that benefit them or suit their purposes.

Malignant narcissists appear to be charismatic, charming, and the life of the party. They use this charm to groom their targets in a ploy to get whatever they want from them, regardless of the consequences. Furthermore, if all else fails, malignant narcissists will not hesitate to resort to making threats, using force, or engaging in other forms of coercion to get what they want. Then, when that person is is no longer useful, the malignant narcissist will discard or devalue them.

Malignant Narcissism Traits – Aggression

As mentioned above. malignant narcissists are prone to aggressive or violent behaviour. It does not take much for them to become enraged, especially when their inflated sense of superiority or entitlement is challenged. This makes them unpredictable and unstable, leading to sudden outbursts of anger or aggression.

Malignant narcissists typically resort to aggression in situations where their power and control are being challenged by others. They use threats of violence or actual physical violence to intimidate or control others. In addition, if the circumstances permit it, they will also use emotional abuse that inflicts long-lasting damage as a tool to control their victims.

Emotional abuse can include tactics such as gaslighting, name-calling, public humiliation, emotional blackmail, and more. This is how they inflict severe emotional damage, often causing long-term emotional scars that may impact their victims for years to come.

Malignant Narcissism Traits – Lack of accountability

Malignant narcissists will not take responsibility for their own actions, and they will not hesitate to blame others for any problems or failures that arise. They are too proud and egotistical to admit that they were wrong, and too afraid to be seen as weak or lacking in control. As a result, they deflect responsibility onto others and avoid accountability by making excuses, shifting blame, or pointing fingers at anyone but themselves when things go wrong.

In addition, malignant narcissists make excuses for their bad behaviour or self-destructive habits. They rationalize their poor choices by blaming external factors such as work stress, exhaustion, or family issues.. They will also use manipulation tactics such as gaslighting and emotional blackmail to try and make victims feel guilty for not understanding them better or accommodating their needs more adequately.

In some cases, malignant narcissists may also project their faults onto others. They will accuse innocent people of doing the same things that they are actually guilty of doing themselves. This projection can be an effective way for them to escape accountability and avoid taking responsibility for their actions.

How To Protect Yourself from a Malignant Narcissist

Malignant narcissism is a dangerous and destructive force. The malignant narcissist’s need for power and control, combined with their lack of empathy, inevitably lead to manipulative and abusive behaviour.

Here are some steps you can take in order to protect yourself from a malignant narcissist:

Recognize the warning signs

A Malignant Narcissist will display certain behaviours that should be considered warning signs. These include manipulation tactics such as gaslighting, name-calling, public humiliation, emotional blackmail, etc. It is important to pay attention to these signs and step away from the person if necessary.

Set firm boundaries

Once you recognize the warning signs of an aggressive or manipulative person, it is important to set firm boundaries in order to protect yourself from further harm or exploitation. Let the narcissist know what behaviours are unacceptable and make sure they understand that any sort of abuse will not be tolerated whatsoever.

Avoid conflict whenever possible

Malignant narcissists become enraged when their inflated sense of superiority or entitlement is challenged, so it is best to avoid any kind of confrontation with them whenever possible. If there is no way around it then try your best to remain calm and civil while also maintaining a firm stance on your boundaries.

Remove yourself from the situation when needed

If a confrontation does occur then do not hesitate to remove yourself from the situation if necessary for your own safety and well-being. This could mean leaving the physical location that you’re in or simply ending the conversation.

In some cases it might even be best to completely break off contact with an especially volatile malignant narcissist all together in order to protect yourself from further damage or exploitation.

Take care of yourself emotionally and physically

Make sure to take time for self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, or journaling. These can help reduce stress levels and prevent burnout. Also make sure that you get enough sleep every night so that your mind and body remain healthy and able to withstand potentially damaging narcissistic encounters in the future if necessary.

Final Thoughts

It is important to remember that a malignant narcissist can be very dangerous. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the warning signs of this behaviour and take steps to protect yourself from further harm or exploitation.

This can include setting firm boundaries, avoiding conflict whenever possible, going no contact if necessary, and taking care of your emotional and physical health as best you can. With the right knowledge and approach, you can keep yourself safe from a malignant narcissist’s potentially damaging behaviour.