Narcissists all sit nicely on a scale, don’t they? Some may be less harmful to you than others, while a select few (but very existing) actually have psychopathic blood running through their veins.
It’s not enough for them just to be a little egotistical. Instead – they are all in. Making your life, and the lives of everybody else completely miserable.
They’re dangerous, and I’m not talking lightly here.
So let’s look at the narcissist in your life – and as you work through my ‘Psychopath Checklist’ – I’ll let you decide if they are more evil than you had them down to be.
Let’s Get to Know Them: The Checklist
You’ll know a narcissist by their:
- Inability to feel or display any empathy
- Ability to triangulate and pit people against each other
- Their lack of sympathy when you’re struggling
- The entitled bubble they live in – where they feel everything is owed to them
- Obsession that the world must revolve around them
- Way they blow so hot and cold – creating an addictive persona and one victims find it hard to break away from
- Game playing tactics such as isolating you, gaslighting you, violating your boundaries and stripping away your confidence and self-esteem
- Isolation moves, making it hard for you to find a support system over time because they’ve managed to disante you from loved ones
- Instant charm and how they can draw crowds while simultaneously ignore you and give you the silent treatment
- Ability to treat you abusively behind closed doors but maintain a very popular character in public, making it hard for you to justify or prove abuse
Narcissists are dangerous people who are capable of causing so much destruction. They have zero conscience and will get under your skin over time. Eventually, guess what?
…Your attachment to them reaffirms the power they have over you.
That’s the sole aim of a narcissist, really. The idea that “I can do whatever I want, and you’ll forgive me for it” is how they know you’ll never leave them.
Hmmm … Ticks All The Boxes…
All narcissists behave this way, and that’s something those who know them will figure out over time.
It’s not supposed to be nice or pleasant, and any narcissist that enters your life is going to turn it around to suit them and make everything difficult, painful or disappointing for you.
It’s their job, it’s what they do best.
Narcissists are toxic tornados and if you are in their path, they’re going to destroy you.
But what about the next level? What happens when a narcissist truly enters psychopathic territory?
Do you think the narcissist you know could display some of those traits?
We’re talking major shifts and steps up in the narcissism scale.
Psychopaths exist, and they don’t just exist in True Crime docuseries on your streaming channel!
They’re among us, and you likely know one or two.
If you’re unlucky enough to know one well, then it’s time we broke down the true meaning of “psychopath,” and allow you to decide for yourself if the person in question ticks those boxes.
Narcissism vs. Psychopathy: What’s The Difference?
Narcissists:
- React hugely to criticism
- Driven by self-image
- Are always on the lookout for admiration
- Need attention wherever they go
Psychopaths:
- Are calculated to another level – with no remorse
- They are cold people – some say they cannot feel a single emotion
- Sometimes engage in criminal behavior with no conscience at all
- Are deceitful to the point where they are unable to feel any guilt or regret
- Are not wanting to be defined by a desire for social recognition. They don’t care for attention – instead focusing purely on their motive
You see that a psychopath can go about their days quietly and get whatever they want done, done. Narcissists can’t do that without creating drama and getting as much attention as possible.
It’s worrying that factually – psychopaths are always the pens you hear about when people say:
They were always so quiet. I never really saw them and they didn’t really speak.
They never gave me the impression that they were troubled. Always saw me, smiled and waved.
They kept themselves to themselves.
Suddenly, it all makes sense when you think of it like this.
Narcissists are the opposite in many ways. They are always wanting in one person’s business, competing and comparing, and causing conflict and chaos wherever they go.
Psychopaths however – not as much.
…Dare I Ask The Similarities?!
Sure! But I think you’d better get comfortable, because there are more similarities than you think.
- They’re both selfish
- They’re both cruel
- They both lack a conscience
- They both lack empathy
- They both hold grudges
- They both exhibit toxic urges
- They’re both full of ego
- They hate themselves underneath it all
- They get jealous
- They hate seeing other people happy
- They enjoy punishment and revenge
It’s eye opening to see quite how much narcissists and psychopaths have in common, isn’t it?
I mean, every single one of these similarities have the ability to grow and evolve into really dangerous acts that can cause you pain or problems.
If you clock into the psychopath side of these similarities, you’re going to want to magnify them because they will be much more intense than those of a narcissist.
I know right now you’re probably thinking of all the famous villains in movies who could be categorized as psychopaths, just for comparison’s sake.
Good job I did that already for you!
- Catherine in Basic Instinct
- Jordan in the Wolf of Wall Street
- The Joker
- Anton in No Country For Old Men
- Or, dare I go there… Fatal Attraction?!
These are people beyond the narcissistic level of entitlement or manipulation.
These are people with a real evil streak.
Ignoring That Gut Feeling
The mind and gut are so closely connected that we should all be tuning into it more.
The gut will tell you when something doesn’t seem right, so it’s then up to you to know what to do next.
Psychopaths are dangerous people, and you could end up finding yourself in a real spot of bother if you don’t look to escape.
If You Don’t Feel Safe…
Situations that involve narcissists and psychopaths is a pretty unsafe path to walk on.
You think you’re safe, but that’s only because you know what you’re getting into.
Sometimes, you don’t.
Sometimes you need to walk away and reach out for help if needed.
Not feeling safe is the first step to admitting there’s a huge problem you need to find your way out of, and I would advise that to be the case if this is where you are.
