A new TEDEd video breaks down the different types of narcissism¹, from the obvious to the not-so obvious, and explains how these traits almost always take a turn for the dark side.

 

Psychologists define narcissism as an 'inflated², grandiose³ self-image,' and it has persevered⁴ through the centuries as a personality trait and, in extreme cases, a psychological disorder⁵.

 

Narcissists have a tendency to act selfishly, according to the lesson by W. Keith Campbell, and this can present itself in many different ways.

 

According to the expert, 'it's like a disease where the sufferers feel pretty good, but the people around them suffer.'

 

Political leaders or people of power may make risky⁶ or unethical decisions as a result of narcissism, while narcissistic⁷ partners could be unfaithful and dishonest.

 

As a personality trait, narcissism can appear in two forms: grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism.

 

In both forms, however, 'the dark side of narcissism' will ultimately show up over time.

 

A much more extreme type of narcissism also exists, and it's classified as a psychological disorder.

 

This is known as narcissistic personality disorder.

 

Research has linked narcissism to genetics, but it's still unknown which genes⁸ actually contribute to this.

 

Genes, environment, and cultural setting can all have a hand in fostering narcissism.

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