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Difference Between PD

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#1 Sep 21 - 5PM
jonnie
jonnie's picture

Difference Between PD

I've read in several places that all psychopaths are narcissistc, but not all narcissists are psychopaths. Does anyone know what traits psychopaths generally contain that narcissists don't? The traits of all the various PD seem to run together for me.

Sep 22 - 12AM
Jannie In the Sun
Jannie In the Sun's picture

The Dark Triad

There are three personality traits known as the Dark Triad. Machivallian ( The end justifies the means!) Narcissist ( I'm great, I'm entitled, me, me, me) Psychopath (I'm sorry (not really) but I am going to have to kill you now) Psychopaths are one rung higher on the 'F#%ked In the Head' ladder than the other two. This article has a few noted variances. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201107/the-dark-triad-and-impulsivity They can all be real life monsters and the stuff of nightmares.
Sep 22 - 2PM (Reply to #8)
Susan32
Susan32's picture

It's true

That explains why the Narcs in my life have been easier to deal with than the ex-Psych (as in psychopath) prof. He makes my Narc grandmother and my former Narc boss look like they're on the way to canonization. My former Narc boss could be sadistic... but he didn't take it to the lengths the ex-P did. The ex-P would be smirking proudly (or be blank faced) while I was sobbing, hysterical, during the final D&D. I think he expected me to be suicidal or insane by the end of my senior year. Instead, I graduated. It was difficult, esp. with the whole "fake it till you make it." He wanted me broken down, suicidal, incapable of love... no wonder he looked terrorized when I HUGGED him at graduation. Here I was, trying to make good closure... and he had the look on his face of absolute horror&shock. Believe me, it was DIFFICULT emotionally during the final D&D to go to class, do my work, get everything done&settled. My mind was a raging mess. I was confused, numb, wavering between anger, hatred, love... utter cognitive dissonance. What compounded matters was that in hindsight I realize the ex-P was quoting websites on NPD. Imagine an N/P quoting Sandra Brown/Lisa Scott during the final D&D... and that's what I got. He'd tell me that my feelings for him were a diversion from reality/my own fears of the future, to focus on what was POSITIVE in my life and had nothing to do with him... and he'd be as gleeful when I was indifferent as when I was crying. Confusing. Ns/Ps don't usually get off on indifference. Normally, it ANNOYS them. Our goal is indifference. I think the ex-P got off on my indifference because I was faking it, and it was painful to me. Trying to pretend one doesn't care when one CARES is a cross.
Sep 21 - 11PM
gettinbetter
gettinbetter's picture

A narcissist dysfunctional

A narcissist dysfunctional behavior harms people but its almost in an absent minded way. They are so self absorbed they simply take care of themselves whatever that may and whom ever that may hurt. They dont care as long as they remain the center of attention. A psychopath is a more harmful predator. They seek to completely destroy their victim. It is not enough for them to win they must destroy and find pleasure in it. Either way if you get involved with them they will take you down. Just depends how on how bad they take you and whether they had some sick enjoyment in watching you suffer.
Sep 21 - 10PM
rosedewittbukater
rosedewittbukater's picture

Read Sandra Brown's book

"women who love psychopaths" It spelled it all out for me. Sunafter and Caligirl are both right, definitely there are many that have comorbid or overlapping traits all the Cluster B disorders.
Sep 21 - 9PM
Caligirl
Caligirl's picture

Mine had N/P traits

A lot of the Cluster B PD's do have overlapping traits, lack of empathy, can't love, etc, but Ps can cause extreme harm to victims, as they can be sadistic, and for seemingly no reason at all. It was on a couple occasions during my D&D that I saw a gleam in my ex's eyes as I was obviously hurt or crying and also a smirk of satisfaction and smile. Narcs rarely apologize bc they think they're always right bc of their grandiosity and arrogance, but my ex NEVER aologized. He also never cried, EVER, not one tear. Mine also used every tool under the sun to try and control and degrade me: gaslighting, mindgames, ST, hot and cold, threat to abandon/breakup, said he'd "punt" my dog, criticized my appearance, made raunchy sexual comments to compare me to exs, bribed me, threatened to say untrue things about me to family, crazy-making, name-calling... They will stop at nothing to destroy your spirit, even if they are discarding you, bc they don't want to leave a sweet, compassionate in tact person out there in the world to find real love. If you don't get away in time, Ps can cause a lot of damage that take a great deal of time and work to undo, PTSD, etc. Excuse my French, but they are naturally equipped to leave you with a complete mindf*ck, without training. It's just complete dichotomy, one moment giving you a little gift and saying how you are everything to them, and later ignoring you and you're not worth the effort.
Sep 21 - 8PM
Dema
Dema's picture

Psychopath vs Narc

A psychopath can't differentiate all sorts of things. A Narc can't understand empathy and love. A psychopath has no regard for right or wrong. And also can't feel love or empathy. On this site, I have read a lot from people with psychopathic narcissists. Mine wasn't. I call mine a Pinocchio Narcissist. He can't feel what other people feel. And he knows it. He is aware of his failure in that regard. He is a sad character. He is still conceited, a braggart, a liar, an actor and he rages exessively. Well, any rage is excessive - but he rages a lot. And yet, he is pathetic. He was loyal. He was mean, but not cruel. He caused a lot of pain, but he didn't enjoy it. He was a hypocrite - but kindof a clueless double standarded hypocrite. I keep slipping into the past tense, but maybe that is good. The psychopaths don't care about hurting other people. Sometimes they enjoy causing pain that they themselves cannot feel. A Narc can't feel love or empathy - a psychopath I don't think can feel much of anything that would connect with humanity - no regret, no guilt...... A psychopath, once unveiled, really has no redeeming qualities. And he most definitely is NOT pathetic. Whereas Pinocchio is a rather sad character in Narcdom. This is all my perspective and should not be taken too seriously - I am rediscovering my world just like you are.
Sep 21 - 5PM
Sunafterrain
Sunafterrain's picture

jonnie

That's because they do. Narcissists, psychopaths, borderlines, sociopaths, ASPD, are ALL of the Axis II Cluster B disorders. Oftentimes, if not MOST times, these disorders are combined. Traits don't matter, even a small trait can kill a relationship with one of these people. They are ALL toxic. None is less toxic than another.
Sep 21 - 9PM (Reply to #2)
tresor2
tresor2's picture

Cluster B

I do not believe that the DSM-IV uses the word "psychopath," but I think they should. Cluster B disorders are Antisocial PD, Narcisisstic PD, Borderline PD and Histrionic PD. They are talking about taking NPD out of DSM-V, plus a few of the other Axis II disorders. It's so true that people are rarely inflicted with only one disorder...dual or tri-diagnosis is much more prevelant. Some people alternate between NPD and BPD during the course of a day or weeks or months. Like you said, sometimes only one criteria is enough to make the person dangerous. Lacking empathy is only one NPD criteria and that alone is enough reason to run. Toxic, lethal and evil is how I describe these people. They are not human which translates to foreseeable harm up to and including death in the worst cases.