June 14th, 2022
It’s one thing to have a high-strung boss or self-serving coworker, but for people with Narcissist personality disorder, coworkers face a unique set of challenges. You may have used the term “narcissist” or heard it thrown around in conversations to describe a person who is disliked.
Why are we so convinced that we have come across Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) in the workplace when only 0.5% of the population meets the criteria for it in their lifetime? It’s likely that you may have, but not as common as you think.
NPD is a diagnosable personality disorder that is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual. Mayo Clinic describes NPD as “a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others”. Underneath their mask of confidence, however, “lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism.”
Common traits of NPD listed in the DSM-V:
A common belief amongst psych professionals is that personality disorders are formed early on in life and are generally related to the attachment a person develops with their primary caretakers.
Early childhood and adolescent experiences including trauma and loss also contribute to the potential development of personality disorders later in life.
Lastly, having a parent who also has a personality disorder leaves children more susceptible to developing one later in life.
Those diagnosed with NPD are 75% male by comparison to just 25% females. While there is no data across ethnicities or socioeconomic classes, we also know that there are a few professions that tend to attract people living with NPD. Finance, sports, politics, and the medical field all tend to be professions that attract people with NPD. Additionally, we can see higher than average rates of NPD in C-level executives and others in high-level positions within a company.
Any type of relationship with a person who has NPD can be difficult - personal or professional. A close relationship with a narcissist can have negative effects on a person’s self-esteem, self-worth, and overall mental health.
Here Are Some Tips:
Change is possible with counseling in conjunction with medication. There are positive outcomes for people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder who want to learn how to have stronger, more authentic relationships.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is often used with success in the treatment of personality disorders. Clarity Clinic offers DBT therapy for people of all ages, if you think you may benefit from this treatment give us a call today.
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