Which of the following statements best describes an individual diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder?
options:
a) They tend to put their needs and wants on hold to cater to those of others.
b) They are sensitive to criticism and expect admiration and special treatment from others.
c) They are excessively over-dramatic and inappropriately provocative in order to gain and maintain the center of attention.
d) They are very harsh on themselves, and have a tendency to be self-damaging and impulsive in their actions.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b) They are sensitive to criticism and expect admiration and special treatment from others.
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is characterized by a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. Individuals with NPD often have an inflated sense of their own importance and a strong desire for excessive admiration from others. They expect to be recognized as superior even without corresponding achievements and believe that they deserve special treatment or privileges. This sense of entitlement is a key trait of NPD.
In addition to expecting admiration, individuals with NPD are highly sensitive to criticism. Any perceived slight, even minor, can provoke feelings of humiliation or anger, which may lead to defensive behaviors. They may react with rage or withdrawal when they feel criticized or undervalued, as their self-esteem is fragile despite their outward appearance of confidence and superiority.
NPD individuals may also lack empathy, making it difficult for them to recognize or care about the feelings of others. Their relationships are often one-sided, with an emphasis on their own needs and desires. While they may present an outward appearance of confidence, their internal self-worth is usually dependent on external validation, such as admiration or attention from others.
While the other options describe behaviors that can be associated with different personality disorders, they do not align as closely with the traits of NPD as option b does. Option a, for example, describes self-sacrificing behavior, which is more characteristic of individuals with dependent or other personality traits. Option c’s description of being excessively dramatic is more closely associated with histrionic personality disorder, and option d reflects characteristics of borderline or antisocial personality disorder rather than NPD.