Psychology Diary

The First Step Toward Change Is Awareness

  • Home
  • Relationships
  • Mental Health
  • Expert Tips
  • Life
  • Family
  • Marriage

What Causes Narcissistic Personality Disorder? 

December 12, 2024 · Mental Health
Photo by Rawpixel.com from Shutterstock

According to research, narcissistic personality disorder is present in 5% of the population in the U.S.

It’s just a small percentage, yet it’s something worrying! We’ve seen a lot of articles lately based on this topic, and if you’re a subscriber, you probably read many from our page too. However, we will be “sitting on it for a while” because it is a vast topic to investigate and the subject of many research papers.

This time around we will talk more about narcissistic personality disorder and what may cause it, how it affects a person’s self-esteem and identity, and most importantly, how they end up treating the others around them because of this condition.

It is generally acknowledged that a variety of factors can influence a person’s lifetime risk of developing NPD, and the possible causes of narcissistic personality disorder are listed below:

What is narcissistic personality disorder?

This term comes from the Greek, Narcissus, a hunter from mythology. The myth states that Narcissus was unable to stop staring at his reflection in a pool of water because his beauty so consumed him. Until he passed away, he did nothing but gaze at his reflection.

This is why people think that the term narcissism is associated with physical appearance, but in reality, this is just a tiny bit of what it really means. Intelligence, charm, artistic talent, athletic prowess, wealth, power, success, and more fall under the umbrella of what NPD is.

Furthermore, an excessive need to feel significant or impress others is a sign of NPD. That need may be powerful enough to motivate destructive actions that harm both you and those around you.

Pages: 1 2 3 4

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

5 responses to “What Causes Narcissistic Personality Disorder? ”

  1. Nan says:
    January 23, 2025 at 5:40 pm

    I have been married to the same man for 45 years, and he is definitely a narcissist. He is extremely controlling, doesn’t know how to apologize/provide encouragement//give compliments to me or our children. On the other hand, he is giving and has always been an amazingly generous provider.

    Reply
  2. Rena Chase says:
    January 24, 2025 at 2:25 am

    I feel like my sister is narcissist person she has to have birth control of everyone and she doesn’t like someone knowing something more than she does she makes everybody kind of ignore that person when my father and mother made their trust well she forged my name and took my name off of it and then had 19 people be Witnesses which I wasn’t even there for it to get notarized then when my father died I wasn’t allowed any of the house I took everything she wanted before she allowed my brother to go in and then I wasn’t allowed to go in until after they sold the house and they had thrown all my stuff away she has caused so much trouble in the family it’s unbelievable she knows people so she kind of buys people thinking what you want so you do he put my mom in a nursing home she sold her house without my mother even knowing what she was signing she has done everything sneaky and when I catch up with what and confront her she ignores me tells me she’s me and then turns my brothers against me telling them she knows more than I do and not to trust me she took all my mother’s money she puts in septic systems for living her husband does she charge my mother which he owns a house right beside my mother she needed a new subject system too to hook up to the town well that’s what they do for a living so she’s like hers and she did my mother’s both at the same time with her company truck in your companies everything and then turns around and give my mom a bill of 40,000 she lies to people like crazy and when they capture and arrive she has another excuse she has not spoken to me in 10 years when I was going to my divorce she came to my house took all my ex’s stuff put him in her bed and throw out the door that’s not what I want it so when she said that I told her to get out of my house and I took all the stuff back again she lied under oath cuz she was never even there and my brother Craig is the witness that my father said I never ever leave he and dawned him my father told my brother that my sister lied on the stand and then I had not was not allowed to go near my parents at all and she called elderly abuse on me when that when sour on her she has nothing to do with my mother now that she’s in the nursing home she took off her money she will not answer to where all the money went of a sale of the house but I have no idea what to do haha to find out where all the money of the house went the house went for 550,000 in this not one thing around

    Reply
    • Margo says:
      February 18, 2025 at 9:34 pm

      Sorry this has happened to you. I’m sorry to say sometimes it’s best to walk away from people like this . Money isn’t everything nor is DNA. Leave your family behind you. Move far away and live your best life. You deserve to be happy. And please use periods when you write.

      Reply
  3. Bob says:
    January 24, 2025 at 7:55 am

    Excellent article.

    Reply
  4. Luis A Baquedo says:
    February 3, 2025 at 2:25 am

    Very educational article in this subject. It gives me a better understanding of this psychological condition and how to deal with it in my relationship with people suffering from this condition. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • A mixed media collage of an anatomical heart being slowly stained by dark ink, symbolizing the corrosive nature of unspoken resentment. 7 Signs Someone Is Secretly Resentful Toward You
  • A mixed-media collage showing a human silhouette with a fractured internal wooden frame, representing the delicate architecture of trust. 8 Behaviors That Reveal Someone Has Deep Trust Issues
  • An elderly man sits alone at a kitchen table in soft afternoon light while his adult daughter watches from the doorway with concern. Why Some People Become More Difficult With Age—According to Psychologists
  • Conceptual paper-craft illustration of a brain with glowing neural pathways and botanical growth representing cognitive health. The Link Between Physical Activity and Mental Sharpness After 60
  • A senior woman in a sunlit room excitedly examines a green leaf through a magnifying glass, surrounded by plants and gardening tools. Why Seniors Who Stay Curious Live Longer—And How to Cultivate It
  • A man in his 60s working with clay in a pottery studio, symbolizing the transition from a career to a new personal purpose. How to Rebuild Your Identity and Purpose After You Stop Working
  • A single coffee mug on a wooden table next to an empty chair in a sunlit kitchen, representing the quiet of loss. How to Cope with Grief After Losing a Spouse in Retirement
  • An older woman in a knit sweater sits on a porch at dawn, holding a steaming mug and looking thoughtfully at a misty garden. The Power of Gratitude: How Seniors Can Use It to Live Happier Lives
  • A senior woman sits alone on her sofa in warm afternoon light, looking out the window with a pensive and slightly anxious expression. Why Anxiety in Seniors Is Often Overlooked—and How to Get Help
  • 8 Simple Ways to Boost Your Mood Every Day After 60 8 Simple Ways to Boost Your Mood Every Day After 60

Newsletter

Get the latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

Dementia myth

Subtle Signs of Dementia: 6 Important Things You Need to Know

A Person Is Diagnosed With Dementia Every 4 Seconds! One of the saddest aspects of…

Read More →
antidepressants

6 Natural Antidepressants That Might Help With Depression

Did you know that there are a lot of natural antidepressants that could improve your…

Read More →
Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder and the 6 Vicious Myths Surrounding It

How Much Do You Know About Bipolar Disorder? When it comes to bipolar disorder, there…

Read More →
Alzheimer's

6 Surprising Truths About Alzheimer’s. Why Is Nobody Talking About Them?

This year in the U.S., it’s anticipated that there will be close to 500,000 new…

Read More →
Grieving Process

The Grieving Process Is Devastating. These 7 Remarkable Tips Will Help!

Let’s go through the grieving process together! Losing someone you love will never be an…

Read More →
Paranoid Disorder

10 Silent Signs of Paranoid Personality Disorder

Paranoid Personality Disorder, or PPD, is one of those mental health conditions that often flies…

Read More →
burnout, causes and symptoms

Burnout: Causes and Symptoms explained by Psychologists

What is burnout? Causes and symptoms are presented and explained by psychologists in the following…

Read More →
men become cranky as they age

Why Do Men Become Cranky as They Age? 9 Psychological Reasons

The psychological explanation behind “Why do men become cranky as they age”  The phrase “grumpy…

Read More →
dementia myth

7 Worst Types of Dementia and How to Identify Yours

…Are you scared of dementia? According to research, dementia is one of the most prevalent…

Read More →

Psychology Diary

The First Step Toward Change Is Awareness

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@psychologydiary.com

Explore

  • About Us
  • Advertiser Disclosure
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Editorial Policy
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Expert Tips
  • Family
  • Life
  • Marriage
  • Mental Health

© 2026 Psychology Diary. All rights reserved.