Narcissism is believed to be this extreme personality trait: loud, arrogant, and obvious. But narcissistic tendencies can show up in far more subtle ways. In fact, many people exhibit narcissistic patterns without even realizing it.
Psychologists now recognize that narcissism isn’t a one-size-fits-all. It exists on a spectrum and can take several distinct forms. These forms are not formal diagnoses, but rather identifiable habits.
What are the five recognized types of narcissism shown in real-life examples and research-backed traits? This article is for those curious about their behavior or trying to make sense of a difficult relationship. The most accessible way to explore narcissism traits is through a reflective online quiz, read how to do it.
What Are Different Types of Narcissists?
What is actually meant by a “type” of narcissism? In psychological research by Ackerman et al., a type isn’t a clinical diagnosis. It’s a recognizable set of behaviors, emotional responses, and interpersonal strategies [1].
These typologies explain the different ways narcissistic traits can show up in everyday life. A quiz by Breeze, https://breeze-wellbeing.com/narcissist-test/, allows exploring these features in real life. Simply naming someone “a narcissist” won’t help, but studying how certain tendencies may be affecting relationships, boundaries, or emotional well-being is useful.
These five types of narcissism will be addressed in today’s article. Read their summaries below:
- Grandiose (Overt), which is characterized by a need for admiration, overt confidence, and entitlement.
- Vulnerable (Covert) that conceals itself through quiet manipulation, defensiveness, and hypersensitivity.
- Communal that seeks recognition by being “the most helpful,” seeming giving, but yearning for approval.
- Malignant incorporates cruelty, aggression, or even sadism along with traits of different narcissism types.
- Antagonistic, that is competitive, combative, and motivated more by power doubts than by a desire to connect.
1. Grandiose Narcissist (Overt Narcissist)
One of the five forms of narcissism that most people think of when they hear the word “narcissist” is grandiose narcissism. It is difficult to miss, loud, and audacious. An exaggerated sense of self-importance may be present in grandiose narcissists. They need to be admired all the time because they think they are better than everyone else.
Bragging, controlling conversations, downplaying the opinions of others, and persistently looking for approval or recognition are examples of typical behaviors. Grandiose narcissists frequently interrupt others or substitute their own “better” version of events.
To gain a better understanding, imagine an influencer who presents ideas they have borrowed as their own without giving credit, or a charismatic team leader who claims credit for the team’s accomplishments. These qualities are typically rewarded rather than questioned in achievement-driven fields like tech, politics, or finance.
Campbell & Miller (2011) found that people with overt narcissistic traits score high on exploitative-entitlement scales, which means they promote themselves at the expense of others because they think they deserve it [2]. While overt narcissists can appear confident and even charming, their relationships might suffer due to a lack of genuine emotional reciprocity.
2. Vulnerable Narcissist (Covert Narcissist)
It is more difficult to identify vulnerable or covert narcissism. These people may come across as emotionally fragile, overly sensitive, or insecure. In contrast to arrogance, this kind of narcissism manifests as defensiveness, withdrawal, or quiet manipulation.
Strong reactions to perceived rejection or the interpretation of neutral feedback as criticism are common among vulnerable narcissists. When they feel ignored or misunderstood, they might act in ways like sulking, guilt-tripping, or giving the silent treatment.
According to psychologists Pincus & Lukowitsky (2010), shame and a recurring fear of abandonment are the main motivators for covert narcissists [3]. These characteristics may result from attachment wounds or early emotional neglect.
Contrary to other narcissist types, covert types are rarely seen as confident in themselves. They do, however, frequently possess an innate feeling of uniqueness. This can lead them to have toxic relational dynamics, especially when their needs aren’t met.
3. Communal Narcissist
Communal narcissists usually try their best not to be seen as narcissists but, vice versa, as selfless. They see themselves as especially moral, generous, or compassionate. On the surface, they appear helpful and community-oriented, but the motivation behind their actions is usually the need to be admired for being “good.”
The term “communal narcissism” was introduced by Gebauer et al. in 2012 to describe individuals who express narcissism through morality and altruism [4]. Communal narcissists might publicly declare their selflessness and excessively focus on how much they’ve helped others or share charitable actions in performative ways. Their generosity comes with unspoken expectations, like gratitude, loyalty, or validation.
A commonly encountered example is a caregiver who constantly reminds others how much they’ve done for the family or that they sacrificed their life for them. These parents might act resentful when not thanked publicly.
4. Malignant Narcissist
Malignant narcissism can be the most dangerous and destructive subtype among all five types of narcissism. In extreme cases, it combines different kinds of narcissistic traits with elements of aggression, paranoia, manipulation, and a lack of empathy. While not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, signs of this narcissism type overlap with both Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) symptoms.
These individuals use charm strategically to gain power and control. They may engage in gaslighting, emotional blackmail, or even cruelty. For example, an abusive partner alternates between flattery and threats to keep their partner dependent and confused.
In relationships or work settings, this type can be profoundly harmful, causing emotional trauma, chronic fear, and long-term trust issues for those around them.
5. Antagonistic Narcissist
The antagonistic narcissist is a different type of narcissist who enjoys conflict. Their identity is based on winning relationships, arguments, and interactions, in addition to being admired. People who are antagonistic narcissists may view life as a game in which they lose if someone else wins.
According to Wurst et al., antagonistic narcissism is a distinct subtype linked to unstable relationships, high interpersonal conflict, and low agreeableness [5]. These people aren’t pompous like grandiose narcissists.
Constant rivalry, distrust, and an intense drive to win are among the characteristics of this narcissism type. They frequently interrupt, question the views of others, or make fun of vulnerability as weakness. In order to establish superiority, their behavior is typically disguised as “just being honest” with the underlying motivation to win.
5 Types of Narcissism in a Side-by-Side Comparison
Since different types of narcissism can have both overlapping and different manifestations, it can be hard to distinguish among them. In this case, a side-by-side comparison can be convenient. Find one below.
| Type of Narcissism | Core Traits | Core Motivation | Common Behaviors | Impact on Relationships |
| Grandiose (Overt) | Arrogant, dominant, attention-seeking | Admiration, status, superiority | Bragging, interrupting, taking credit, dismissing others’ opinions | Overshadows others, thrives in power roles, may cause resentment or burnout |
| Vulnerable (Covert) | Insecure, sensitive, emotionally reactive | Validation, reassurance, fear of rejection | Silent treatment, guilt-tripping, withdrawing, playing victim | Creates confusion and emotional exhaustion; difficult to set boundaries |
| Communal | Self-righteous, image-driven, “morally superior” | Praise for altruism or kindness | Over-helping and reminding others of their sacrifices | May create emotional debt or control disguised as care |
| Malignant | Manipulative, cruel, remorseless | Power, control, and emotional domination | Gaslighting, lying, emotional abuse, and revenge-seeking | Highly destructive; fosters fear, dependency, or trauma in others |
| Antagonistic | Competitive, confrontational, distrustful | Social dominance, “winning” interactions | One-upping, mocking, constant disagreement, downplaying others’ successes | Causes tension, arguments, and instability; masked as “brutal honesty” |
Using Online Quizzes to Understand Different Types of Narcissists
Noticing narcissistic traits in yourself or others can feel uncomfortable. But recognizing patterns doesn’t mean somebody is “the problem” or that someone has a disorder. Exhibiting narcissistic behaviors can be a response to stress, trauma, or unmet emotional needs. The key difference lies in self-awareness and the willingness to change.
Online quizzes aren’t diagnostic tools. High-quality ones draw from real psychological typologies to notice how certain behaviors may show up in relationships, communication, and emotional regulation.
Narcissism traits test available on the Breeze app can be especially valuable for people who:
- Find themselves in repeated conflicts and wonder about their role in these arguments.
- Question whether their need for validation or control crosses a boundary.
- Suspect someone in their life may be emotionally manipulative, but don’t have the words to describe it.
Research shows that about 6% of people meet the clinical criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) (APA, 2024), but many more live with narcissistic tendencies that are not included in the statistics because they don’t fully recognize the narcissistic traits [6].
Sources
- Ackerman, R. A., Witt, E. A., Donnellan, M. B., Trzesniewski, K. H., Robins, R. W., & Kashy, D. A. (2011). What does the narcissistic personality inventory really measure? Assessment, 18(1), 67–87. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191110382845
- Campbell, W. K., & Miller, J. D. (Eds.). (2011). The handbook of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder: Theoretical approaches, empirical findings, and treatments. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118093108
- Pincus, A. L., & Lukowitsky, M. R. (2010). Pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6(1), 421–446. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.121208.131215
- Gebauer, J. E., Sedikides, C., Verplanken, B., & Maio, G. R. (2012). Communal narcissism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(5), 854–878. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029629
- Wurst, S. N., Gerlach, T. M., Dufner, M., Rauthmann, J. F., Grosz, M. P., Küfner, A. C. P., Denissen, J. J. A., & Back, M. D. (2016). Narcissism and romantic relationships: The differential impact of narcissistic admiration and rivalry. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 112(2), 280–306. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000113
- APA. (2024). What is narcissistic personality disorder? https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/what-is-narcissistic-personality-disorder
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