We have all had contact with people who are narcissists . This personality trait is characterized by excessive self-admiration, and can sometimes be considered pathological, because it can lead to a toxic relationship with those around such individuals.

But narcissism also takes the form of concrete behavioral patterns. In this article we will focus on just that: the things that narcissistic people do .

Narcissism and insecurity

Those with this strong trait live excessively aware of their own desires and needs and can be proud of it, as a study by Indiana University in 2014 revealed.

Narcissists may appear to be very confident people, but in reality they feel empty and put on a mask to hide their insecurity. They’re not what they appear to be, but they’re all facades. Now, narcissists are people who tend to make friends easily, and can be sweet at first. In the long run, however, they have serious difficulties in maintaining relationships, because sooner or later their true personality comes out .

Things Narcissists Do

Narcissists need other people to feel admired. But how do narcissistic people behave? What habits or behaviors do they frequently engage in?

1. Project an image of superiority

If anything characterizes narcissists it is their attempt to give a perfect image of themselves and they often show airs of superiority. They are always concerned about appearing healthy and popular, and they are usually materialistic people who like to play the big shot. They are always looking for attention, and that is why they dress impeccably. Even to the point of sacrificing their own needs.

2. They want to be the best at everything

Narcissists are not humble people and usually have very high goals, because they like to stand out and, as I said in the previous point, also show an image of superiority. They go to the best doctor, the best hairdresser, the best restaurants… But not because they consider that they are of better quality, but to show off and immortalize that moment in order to upload it to social networks.

3. They give a good first image

The first image that we show to someone determines the trust that we can have with a person in the initial moments and favors the contact with the other person. Narcissists are people who tend to worry about making a good first impression, although they later show their true personality. In the initial moments of a relationship, they may show themselves to be sweet and affectionate . With time, this tendency disappears.

4. No criticism accepted

No one likes to receive criticism, but sometimes criticism can be constructive and useful to the recipient. But narcissists tend to get defensive when they receive criticism, and may even show an aggressive attitude. This happens because they feel that their fragile ego is being threatened.

5. They think they know everything and can be intransigent

Narcissists are people who can be intransigent and who need to show that they know everything and that they are always right. They are people with a lack of empathy , although they may be sweet at first. In fact, they are often intolerant of other people, since they think only of themselves. They come first, and never give in to others.

6. They do not take into account the needs of others

Narcissists are too eager to look at their navels. Therefore,** they don’t have time to think about the needs of others. This is a clear example of their lack of empathy even though it may seem the opposite. When they care about other people it is because they are interested, not because it is a genuine feeling.

7. Perceive narcissism as something positive

Although much of the population considers narcissism to be not at all good, narcissists perceive this personality trait as something positive. This is demonstrated by some studies, which indicate that they have no qualms about describing themselves as conceited or arrogant. The studies also state that they don’t care if others think that narcissism is bad .

8. They believe that the world revolves around them

Narcissists care that others admire them, but they also believe that the world revolves around them. That’s why they are not concerned with the feelings of others, because their attention is on themselves. Although they may seem warm at first contact with a person, they are actually insensitive.

Narcissism and new technologies

New technologies have brought about a change in the way we relate to other individuals. For narcissists, the use of social networks is a great opportunity to feed their ego . For this reason they are constantly uploading selfies and photos to their Facebook or Instagram accounts.

Becoming a selfies is not bad in itself, but narcissists spend a lot of time looking for the perfect photo and posting self-pictures on social networks. A bad habit that, despite feeding their ego, is bad for their self-esteem.

According to one study, narcissists use social networks differently from other subjects, mainly for three reasons:

  • They hang more selfies .
  • They edit the selfies to obtain the image they consider perfect.
  • They spend more time on social networks.

How to spot a narcissist

Narcissists, as you have seen, carry out a series of behaviours and actions that characterise them. That’s why it’s possible to detect them. In the article “How to detect a narcissist… with a simple question” you can find some advice that will help you know if someone is narcissistic.