Low and moderate levels of narcissism can occur in people’s personalities to varying degrees throughout their lives or at certain points (EX: children or people who are successful professionally/financially), but it doesn’t hinder normal everyday emotional functioning. These types of narcissists are still able to recognize other people’s worth, experience empathy, and create meaningful bonds with others.


Narcissism (Low/Moderate Level Narcissism)

Those who have extremely high levels of narcissism (NPD) have a fundamental and enduring distorted self-concept and are unable to relate to the world around them in a healthy way. This leads to the significant emotional and behavioral impairment that characterizes NPD.

NPD (High Level Narcissism)

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (often abbreviated as NPD) is a personality disorder characterized by extreme grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder display several or more of the following characteristics in ways that hinder social and workplace functioning: 

- Grandiose sense of self-importance, such as exaggerating talents and achievements 
- Preoccupation with unrealistic fantasies of success 
- Unwilling to associate with those they consider to be less important than they are 
- Sense of entitlement 
- Lack of empathy for others 
- Envy of others or belief that others are envious of them 

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissism is part of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), but not every narcissist has NPD
- Narcissism
- NPD

Boston University

The one factor model of narcissism puts essentially the whole spectrum of narcissism onto one level. The term "narcissism" is often used as an umbrella term for both minor and extreme (NPD) forms where there's no distinction between different levels of expression.

One Factor Model of Narcissism

Miller, J. D., Back, M. D., & Lynam, D. R. (2021). Corrigendum: Narcissism Today: What We Know and What We Need to Learn. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 30(6), 519–525. https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214221086630

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