Member-only story
10 Things That Narcissists Lack
Philosophy of Narcissism
The term “narcissism” comes from the Greek myth of Narcissus, a handsome young man who falls in love with his own reflection. The story ends tragically, with Narcissus wasting away until he dies, transfixed by his own image.
In modern psychology, narcissism is used to describe a range of different behaviors and personality traits. Generally speaking, people who are considered narcissistic exhibit a sense of grandiose self-importance, a need for excessive admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. They may also take advantage of others or be excessively sensitive to criticism.
While some degree of narcissism is considered normal and even healthy (e.g., having some confidence and self-esteem), too much can be a problem. People with narcissistic personality disorder, for example, often have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships due to their inflated sense of self and lack of empathy.
So, what are some specific things that narcissists lack? Here are ten:
1. Empathy
As mentioned, narcissists have a limited ability to empathize with others. This means they’re often not able to understand or share the feelings of others.
