Signs of a Covert Narcissist
2. Shy or Withdrawn Nature
The key differentiator between overt narcissism and convert narcissism is introversion. Closet narcissists appear shy and demure in nature. However, as opposed to other introverted people — who get social anxiety and can find social situations stressful or overstimulating — covert narcissists are withdrawn because of their deep sense of insecurity, which is a common trait of all forms of narcissism personality disorder.
Vulnerable narcissists prefer to avoid social interactions and engaging with others out of a deep-seated fear that said engagement will reveal personal flaws or failures. They honestly believe that by exposing their innermost feelings and fears, they would be shattering their personal illusion of superiority. To reduce the chance of exposure, they severely restrict their social circles. Like overt narcissists, closet narcissists avoid relationships and situations that do not present a clear benefit to themselves.
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