What Are The Three Masks Of Pathological Narcissism?

The masks of pathological narcissism are manipulation mechanisms. Narcissists use it to hide both their intentions and their true affliction. They don’t want others to find them conceited or arrogant.

That is why they hide behind these mechanisms. Sometimes it works. Ultimately, this confuses everyone around.

Narcissism is the appreciation and selfish admiration of one’s own qualities. Pathological narcissism, then, is when an individual overvalues ​​one’s own qualities and also has a compulsive need for the admiration of others. The core of this pathology is an unconscious self-dislike.

People with narcissistic disorder can be very destructive. In their urge to assert themselves, they end up being manipulative, cruel, or rude to others. They don’t do this consciously. As for their behavior, they deceive themselves.

They make these masks to convince themselves and others that they are not overly proud. Here we give you an overview of the three most typical cases. They are masks of pathological narcissism.

Meet the three masks of pathological narcissism

1. Introduce yourself better

Introducing oneself better is one of the masks of pathological narcissism. It means that these people take the initiative to progress and grow but with the sole aim of provoking admiration, jealousy or submission in others. So this is not a genuine effort to become a better person.

One of the hallmarks of pathological narcissism is a type of self-confidence that experts call “accidental self-confidence.” This means that feelings of self-worth do not come from genuine self-love. Instead, they depend on the value that others assign.

So these people try to do their best but only see this as a means to one end. Their ultimate goal is to impose their will on other people. They want other people to go along with their plans or feel inferior.

There is something that betrays the people who wear this mask. They brag about their progress over and over in public. In addition, they also complain when people don’t see this or don’t praise them enough.

2. Sacrifice oneself

This is one of the trickiest masks of pathological narcissism. It has to do with taking on many responsibilities that are not yours. You want to ‘help’ someone else, so to speak. People who engage in this behavior may even go so far as to deny themselves resources or privileges. They even go through difficult times for others.

The problem is that their true intention is not to do good for others. Their aim is to make others dependent on them and thus gain authority. Self-sacrifice allows them to carry this flag of kindness and generosity.

In fact, however, they cover a much more selfish purpose that way. What they really want is to make sure they have a good image.

Like the first mask, we can also reveal this mask very easily. The narcissistic individual wearing this mask will not wait long before reminding you of all they have done for you.

They try to make the people they ‘helped’ feel guilty. In addition, they also require special treatment. They behave superior to others. Often they also play the victim.

3. Thoughts of greatness

Pathological narcissists have fantasies about how wonderful they are. In the beginning, they really believe that they are better than other people. They constantly compare themselves to others and always end up on top. They believe they are better, more tolerant, more capable and more of everything… (even if they are not).

One of the most characteristic features of this type of person is that they feel they have a right to be angry. So they actually have carte blanche to be furious.

Their anger is sacred. If they explode, it’s because other people drove them to it. If they yell, it’s because they can’t stand people being unfair to someone as good as they are. They only feel offended because of dishonesty or for some admirable purpose.

Sometimes they manage to convince other people that this is true. One classic example is bosses who treat their colleagues unfairly because, so to speak, they want to improve them. Sometimes whole groups of people are victims of these fantasies of grandeur.

The masks of pathological narcissism are mechanisms to hide the ego. Narcissists don’t want to appear narcissistic. That is why they use masks to hide their basic personality traits.

The people who act in this way are suffering quite a lot deep inside. What they need most is help.