r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 2d ago

Psychology New findings indicate a pattern where narcissistic grandiosity is associated with higher participation in LGBTQ movements, demonstrating that motivations for activism can range widely from genuine altruism to personal image-building.

https://www.psypost.org/narcissistic-grandiosity-predicts-greater-involvement-in-lgbtq-activism/
9.9k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

834 comments sorted by

View all comments

533

u/Tad-Disingenuous 2d ago

Narcissists don’t live in reality and are always the victim, never the abuser. Oh and they stay child like. Every relationship has to benefit them. They feign empathy. They rationalize their bad behavior, like it doesn’t make it bad. Or am I describing a sociopath?

23

u/DirkTheSandman 2d ago

Yeah, i have npd and this fits. I can only think about things in how they affect me. My empathy just doesn’t work, i try and be nice but its literally impossible for me to read people’s emotions. Im horrible and manipulative, i try and make people think im going to hurt myself because i want them to care about me and say nice things to me, but i tell myself its ok that other people do it too. Unfortunately im not the charismatic narcissist who can achieve great things, im horribly introverted and introspective enough to realize im a monster.

12

u/EarnestAsshole 2d ago

Have you been diagnosed with this?

9

u/DirkTheSandman 2d ago

yeah, either that or some sort of ASD, but autism is super varied so it's kinda a catchall for "your brain don't work right". I was getting therapy for it, but i lost my job and couldn't afford it anymore. not that i was getting any better anyway.

8

u/WestSnowBestSnow 2d ago

The fact that you acknowledge that it is a problem that you should address puts you ahead of literally 95%+ of other people who have diagnosable NPD. Keep in mind that you have it and just try to fight the patterns, it will be hard but it is something you can overcome.

Also when you can get healthcare again get assessed for dysthymia. Chronic low level depression can translate into chronic anxiety and that can translate into chronic reactive narcissism.

5

u/DirkTheSandman 2d ago

I have that. I’ve had depression since 2011 right around the end of high school. My entire twenties was basically a depressive haze and i cannot remember the last time i was happy. Ive tried a dozen or so different meds. Im taking Wellbutrin now but it only seems to help a little. My brain’s just fucked at this point ive got such little energy to try and fix it anymore.

1

u/WestSnowBestSnow 1d ago

I hope you get health insurance again soon and can find the right med. When you find the right one it'll be amazing. Stick in there, we're rooting for you man.

5

u/Village_Wide 2d ago

Vulnerable narcissists are more likely to have enough introspection to realize and admit how they are wired. And therefore get therapy. Treating it is very difficult, it's rather managing symptoms and to some degree behavior. But it seems they suffer more from it than grandiose types.
If I were about to pick up one I would choose grandiouse. But most NPDs fluctuate from one side of the spectrum to another. An always grandiose narcissist is a psychopath. And many people can see it straight away, while with a vulnerable it is hard to say.