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Are Narcissists Really Happy?
Are narcissists really happy? They seem to always con their way into getting what they want, right? The job, the girl, the money, fill in the blank… but the question is will those things make these damaged souls truly happy? There are recent studies that report contradictory findings regarding narcissists and their levels of happiness. As a psychologist and survivor, I believe that happiness for a narcissist is like most things in their worlds, temporary and superficial but let’s take a deeper look.
Let’s think about what we already know about narcissists and their behaviours. They get bored easily, they are always looking to upgrade, and they like outside validation and recognition. Narcissists tend to have fragile egos and many deal with shame, low self-esteem, and inadequacy. Some are more aware of these feelings than others are but it is pretty safe to say that even the most grandiose narcissist in his or her subconscious is insecure. Narcissists struggle with relationships and making meaningful connections with people which are key components to happiness. Many experts believe that narcissism is a maladaptive coping skill developed due to attachment problems, neglect, poor parenting, or abuse during childhood. Doesn’t seem like those things add up to a recipe for happiness to me but that is just my humble opinion.
