5 Signs Your Spouse Is A Narcissist
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5 Signs Your Spouse Is A Narcissist

 

 

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) affects between 0.5 and 5 percent of the population in the United States.

 

NPD is a personality disorder and mental health condition characterized by patterns of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. People with NPD are often described as narcissists, and it can be very difficult to have healthy relationships with them.

 

If you suspect that you’re in a relationship with a narcissist, listed below are 5 signs of narcissism to watch for.

 

Note: This article is meant for information purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

 

Table of Contents

(click on a question to be directed quickly)

Sign 1: They don’t care about how you feel
Sign 2: They don’t show interest in what is important to you
Sign 3: They can’t take criticism
Sign 4: They always have to be right
Sign 5: They don’t want to change their behavior when it is harming another

 

 

 

 

 

Sign 1: They Don’t Care About How You Feel

 

A key characteristic of narcissism is not caring about how others feel.

 

Narcissists typically lack empathy. This means they struggle to put themselves in other people’s shoes and consider their feelings.

 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association elaborates on this point. It emphasizes that narcissists are “unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.”

 

This definition suggests that narcissists may be capable of empathy but are unwilling to empathize. This is beyond just establishing healthy boundaries, but being totally disconnected.

 

If someone is married to a narcissist or in a romantic relationship with them, they’ll find that their feelings are rarely — if ever — taken into account. It’s all about the narcissist, their feelings, and what they want.

 

 

Narcissism 

Sign 2: They Don’t Show Interest in What Is Important to You

 

Similarly, narcissistic partners also rarely show interest in what is important to their spouses.

 

Narcissists focus heavily on their interests and their need for superiority. They have an inflated sense of self and an obsession with achieving or maintaining a high status.

 

These issues prevent narcissists from showing genuine interest in another’s passions or issues that matter to them.