How to spot a narcissist: Mental health literacy with respect to Narcissistic Personality Disorder. (2014)

“Schizophrenia and depression were ‘correctly’ identified significantly more than … NPD. This demonstrates that laypeople have difficulty identifying NPD.

Kirstie Wright & Adrian Furnham, University College London, United Kingdom
Personality and Mental Health, Vol. 9, Issue 2, pp 150-161

“The study concerns lay people’s mental health literacy with respect to Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).

“…. There is considerable evidence that, paradoxically, narcissists thrive in the workplace and cause considerable problems who work with, and for, them

“However it seems that many people are unable to identify sub-clinical and clinical narcissism which is often seen as positive, healthy, high self-esteem. … Given that NPD is associated with a wide range of behavioural and social problems it seems important to understand when, why, and how lay people are able to identify it and make practical suggestions for help

“… (in the research) Schizophrenia and depression were ‘correctly’ identified significantly more than … NPD. This demonstrates that laypeople have difficulty identifying NPD …

“… This finding also suggests that laypeople find the identification of such mental illnesses as depression and schizophrenia easier than personality disorders which are themselves also mental disorders.”

Access the full paper here: How to spot a narcissist

An article we published recently offers suggestions on 18 ways to spot a narcissist