How to Diagnose Narcissism

Most people think of narcissism as simply a person's unrelenting self-satisfaction, need for attention and lack of respect or empathy for others. People who display those qualities may, in fact, be suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Mental heath professionals should be consulted for official NPD diagnosis, but the following steps can help you determine if someone you know is suffering from this disorder.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Closely observe the person you suspect of suffering from Narcissism Personality Disorder in a variety of social situations. People generally behave differently when they are surrounded by different groups of people, but people with NPD carry similar attitudes and behaviors into nearly all contexts.
2. Pay special attention to the suspected narcissist's dealings with other people. Take into account the person's ability to care about the feelings of others, and the lack of openness to differing opinions or experiences. Note, in particular, the lack of empathy for other's hardships.
3. Listen to the person talk about herself. If the person is a narcissist, she rarely talks about anything else. Consider the narcissits' display of delusions of grandeur, a strong sense of entitlement and the opinion that they're exceptional.
4. Watch this person in group settings to determine if he continuously places himself at the center of attention. See if he regularly interrupts conversations to bring the focus back to himself. Identify actions that are clearly bids for attention.
5. Examine her close personal relationships, such as those with family members, friends and co-workers. In most instances, a narcissist leaves a trail of emotional destruction behind. The high levels of self-absorption and superiority complex that narcissists display alienates most people and at times manifests itself in neglect or emotional abuse of others.