Are Narcissists Dangerous?

More and more these days, we are beginning to realize and acknowledge that traits and behaviors that we once considered normal, have real, and sometimes dire, consequences for not being kept in check. If not for us, then certainly those that we care about around us.

Take narcissists, for example. Whether we realized it or not, narcissistic personality traits do, in some small capacity, exist in all of us.

But more often than not, those more selfish and self-centered thoughts and behaviors are kept in check, whether that’s because we understand that our wants and desires shouldn’t come at the expense of others, or because of our capacity to empathize with others.

Whatever the reason, it keeps our egos in check and allows us to regulate our tendencies and habits well enough to understand care for and cooperate with others.

However, for some people, that inflated sense of self-importance can lead them to develop many traits that can lead to having such a large ego, that manipulating and exploiting others is not an issue if it is potentially obstructing their ambitions and their need to stand above those around them.

These, as well as several traits similar and tied to these, make up what is known as narcissistic personalities. Or, as we know them, narcissists.

Narcissists, in their climbs to achieve the recognition and respect they think they are entitled to, have a nasty habit of making the lives of those around them miserable.

Gaslighting and domineering, bullying others, and generally ignoring the personal boundaries of those around them, there seems to be no end to what narcissistic are prepared to do to get what they want.

This can be an absolute nightmare to have to deal with if you have to with a person like this daily, whether they are a family member or a coworker.

It can often even feel like you are in danger when around them. More often than not, however, we tend to push those fears down. After all, they’re frustrating, but they can’t be that bad, right?

Well, that’s what we’re going to cover in this article, we’re going to give a brief outline as to what narcissistic personality traits are, and how they can be dangerous to you and those around you.

What Is Narcissism And Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Before we go any further, we should probably cover what some narcissistic personality traits are in more detail, so you can identify them.

Generally speaking, these are the traits that many narcissists, or otherwise have Narcissistic Personality disorder (NPD )have:

• An exaggerated idea of their self-worth
• Are ambitious. Or they have a habit or tendency to fantasize about being successful, at least.
• Similar to their inflated sense of self-worth, they believe that they are truly unique in the world, that there is no one else like them.
• A powerful urge or compulsion to be admired by other people around them.
• Believes that they, over others, are entitled to special treatment and privilege.
• They are comfortable manipulating and otherwise taking advantage of those around them for tier own gain.
• Lower than normal empathy, and generally uncaring for what others are feeling
• Envious behavior, or the belief that others are, or should be, envious of them.
• Will come across as arrogant or domineering.

It is important to note that, taken on their own, any one of these traits is not necessarily proof that a person is narcissistic. In small amounts, they help us establish a sense of self-worth and confidence.

But, if a person has five or more of these traits, it may be a sign that they are a narcissist.

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How Narcissists Can be Dangerous

So, we have outlined how exactly to identify what a narcissist is, and how their sense of self-importance is one of the key traits of this personality disorder. With that knowledge, we should go over how these tendencies can be dangerous to you.

They Will Often Act Without Informing Or Consulting Others

A narcissist will often act on something that they want to do, and often without consulting and telling others about it first.

For an example of this, a Narcissist might make a substantial purchase or gamble on their part, or simply act on an urge, such as going to meet or pick up friends in a dangerous situation, such as in dangerous weather conditions, which is a situation that could put someone else’s life in danger.

This probably isn’t a surprising result. After all, to a narcissist, their needs are more important than another’s concerns or even safety, so why would they stop to ask for another’s thoughts or feelings?

Show A Disregard Or Disdain for Expert Opinion

On the subject of ignoring weather warnings, narcissists also tend to ignore the advice or opinion of an expert on matters.

This can manifest in some ways, from ignoring health concerns about an activity to rejecting or trying to overturn a doctor’s recommendation for a procedure or treatment for a condition.

Many narcissists will tend to try and carry out their research on a topic and use any conflicting evidence to confuse or overturn a doctor’s advice.

Whilst a little self-education on a subject isn’t a bad quality, the need to go against an expert if they feel that they are not getting what they want is a pretty big red flag, and it doesn’t take much imagination to see how this could be dangerous for a person

Put Their Needs Above The Safety Of Others

This is very similar to the first point we covered. If a narcissist feels that their needs, or rather, their image can be improved, they can often put others in danger for their ego.

Taking incredibly dangerous risks in dangerous activities, or forcing others to, such as making a dangerous maneuver in an abseiling exercise, is one such example.

Final Thoughts

In short, a narcissist will do many things to help perpetuate their myth of self-importance. As a result, it isn’t hard to see how this could be dangerous for others.