Are INTJs Narcissists? Not Really.
INTJs are often accused of being narcissists, but is that really fair? What is it about this rare personality type that has people questioning whether or not they have a personality disorder?
We’ll dive into what narcissism personality disorder is (and isn’t) and whether or not INTJs deserve any of the heat they get from people who find them hard to deal with.
What is narcissism and what are the signs of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?
It’s easy to make INTJs out to be narcissists (especially if you don’t understand them). After all, they can appear arrogant, self-confident, and have a “my way or the highway” attitude.
However, there is more to narcissism than just being confident and assertive. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental disorder that is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. People with NPD often try to control others and can be quite manipulative.
There are several signs that someone may be suffering from NPD. These include:
– A grandiose sense of self-importance
– A need for constant admiration
– A lack of empathy for others
– A sense of entitlement
– manipulates others for their own gain
– An inflated ego
While INTJs may exhibit some of these signs, it does not mean that they necessarily have NPD. It’s more likely common INTJ blind spots run amuck.
In fact, most INTJs do not suffer from this disorder. Narcissism is often used as a catch-all term for people who are simply confident and assertive, but that doesn’t mean that all confident and assertive people are narcissists.
How do INTJs score on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI)?
The NPI is a scale that measures narcissism. INTJs might score high on the NPI, but this is not because they are actually narcissists. The NPI simply measures certain traits that are common among INTJs, such as confidence and assertiveness.
This is interesting because although INTJs may share certain traits with narcissists, they’re actually motivated by very different things. For one, they could care less what anyone thinks of them. INTJs are introverted by nature and don’t crave the spotlight. They’re also not motivated by a need for admiration or validation from others.
Are INTJs Narcissists?
INTJs are often accused of being narcissists, but this is usually not the case. Yes, they may share certain traits with narcissists, but they’re actually quite different. INTJs are introverted, independent, and motivated by their own standards, not the approval of others.
While it’s easy to lump all confident and assertive people into the narcissist category, it’s important to remember that not all confident and assertive people are actually suffering from NPD. So, if you’re wondering whether or not your INTJ friend is a narcissist, the answer is probably no.
Ok, but what if an INTJ does suffer from narcissism?
If an INTJ does suffer from NPD, they may have difficulty in many areas of their life – just like anyone else with this personality disorder.
For one, their inflated sense of self-importance can make it difficult for them to relate to others. They may also have trouble keeping healthy relationships due to a lack of empathy. Additionally, an INTJ with this personality disorder may have manipulative tendencies that can make it difficult to have trusting relationships.
But, again, these problems are not exclusive to INTJs with NPD. They are merely common challenges faced by all people with NPD. It’s important to distinguish between typical INTJ quirks and signs of actual narcissism.
The two are not synonymous.
If anything, INTJs are known for being pretty straightforward and abhor psychological games, which makes INTJs with NPD rare birds indeed.
How can loved ones best support INTJs with NPD?
If you love an INTJ with NPD, the best thing you can do is to be patient and understanding. They may have difficulty relating to others, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about people. It’s important to encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional if their symptoms are impacting their life in a negative way.
Additionally, as with any mental disorder, the person has to want to get help. If a loved one in your life suffers from a narcissistic personality disorder (INTJ or otherwise) and has no intention of changing, there’s not much you can do.
It’s best to maintain healthy boundaries until they’re ready to ask for help.
Are there any treatments or therapies that have been found to be effective for narcissists?
This is a tricky question. The most important factor is whether or not the person with NPD is willing to seek help and change their behavior.
If they are open to treatment, there are several therapies that have been found to be effective, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
It’s important to remember that narcissism is a spectrum. There are many people who exhibit some narcissistic traits but do not suffer from NPD. At the same time, there are people with NPD who may never seek help or treatment.
So, while treatments and therapies can be effective for some people with NPD, there is no guarantee that they will work for everyone, and certainly not for people who don’t want to change or get help.
If you think you or a loved one may be suffering from NPD, the best thing to do is seek professional help. A mental health professional can assess whether or not a person has NPD and develop a treatment plan accordingly.
What you don’t want to do is label people narcissists indiscriminately.
Are INTJs Narcissists? Final Verdict
Being an INTJ does not make you a narcissist. There are unique qualities and traits of INTJs that can appear like narcissism to an outside observer, but that doesn’t mean they deserve a quick, arm-chair diagnosis.
Some INTJs may suffer from a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and those individuals will need to get support and therapy to become more balanced people. But generally speaking, most INTJs are just misunderstood.
