10 Narcissist Symptoms
7. Lack of Empathy
Empathy typically develops around age two in children. This stage of development is marked by a realization that other people have feelings different from one’s own, and that they can feel emotional and physical pain. A hallmark of narcissistic personality disorder is a lack of this ability to imagine what others might be feeling in a given situation. Narcissists can come across as cold, unfeeling, or indifferent to the suffering of others.
Narcissism does cause sufferers to focus on the reactions of other people, but only when they have to do with their own behaviors or value. However, narcissists cannot accurately gauge these reactions. They tend to imagine they are affecting people more than they actually are. For example, they inaccurately perceive others to be overly impressed with their looks or achievements. On the other hand, they also cannot perceive when their actions are harming others emotionally or physically.
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