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Narcissists: Evil?

Uploaded 7/30/2010, approx. 4 minute read

My name is Sam Vaknin. I am the author of Malignant Self-Love, Narcissism Revisited.

In his bestselling book People of the Lie, the author, Scott Peck, claims that narcissists are evil. But are they evil? Are tornadoes evil? Are tigers evil? All three, tornadoes, tigers and narcissists, hurt people. But do they hurt people because they are malicious or malevolent? Or do they hurt people because of who or what they are?

In this age of moral relativism, the concept of evil is slippery and very ambiguous. In the Oxford Companion to Philosophy, evil is defined as the suffering which results from morally wrong human choices.

This means that to qualify as an evil person, one must meet two requirements.

One, that the evil person can and does consciously choose the morally wrong over the morally right. And that the evil person acts on this choice, irrespective of the consequences to himself and to others.

In other words, he cannot help being evil. So clearly evil must be premeditated.

Philosophers such as Francis Hutchison and Joseph Butler argued that evil is merely the byproduct of the pursuit of one's interest and cause over other people's interests and causes.

But this is too reductive, too limited. It ignores the critical element of conscious choice among equally efficacious alternatives of action.

Moreover, often people pursue evil even when it jeopardizes their well-being and obstructs their interests.

Ask any criminal or say domesticus.

Narcissists satisfy the two conditions for evilness only partly. The narcissist's evil conduct, the narcissist's alleged evilness, is utilitarian.

Narcissists are evil only when being malevolent secures a favorable outcome. Sometimes they consciously choose the morally wrong, but not invariably so. They are not compelled to be evil. They choose to act in a certain way to maximize profits or benefits. And if it is evil, it's evil.

Narcissists act on their choice even if it inflicts pain or misery on others.

But they never opt for evil if they are the ones to bear the consequences.

So they act maliciously only because it is expedient to do so, not because it is in their nature.

The narcissist is able to tell right from wrong and to distinguish between good and evil.

In the pursuit of his interests and causes, the narcissist sometimes chooses to act wickedly.

Lacking empathy is rarely remorseful for his conduct.

And because if he is entitled, exploiting others comes as a second nature. The narcissist abuses others, sort of absentmindedly, offhandedly, as a matter of fact.

Narcissists generally objectify people. They treat them as expendable commodities to be discounted after use.

And admittedly, this kind of attitude and this kind of treatment of others is evil.

Yet it is the mechanical, faultless, heartless face of narcissistic abuse.

Narcissistic abuse.

The narcissist's evil or evilness is automatic. It is devoid of human passions and familiar emotions.

And this is what renders the narcissist so alien, so frightening, so repellent.

But also, this is what makes the narcissist more like a tiger or a bacterium or a virus or a tornado. He inflicts damage, he hurts people, causes pain, but he does it as if he were a force of nature.

We are often shocked by the actions of the narcissist, but we are usually more startled and taken aback by the way he acts rather than by what he does.

In the absence of a vocabulary rich enough to capture the subtle use and gradations of the spectrum of narcissistic depravity, we default and resort to habitual adjectives such as good and evil.

Never mind that I don't fit the narcissist. We don't have other words. We don't have an extended vocabulary.

This is, in my view, intellectual laziness, and it does this pernicious phenomenon and its victims little justice.

In the pursuit of the study of narcissism, we need to invent a new language to capture this phenomenon and what it does to people.

Thank you.

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Narcissist Never Sorry

Narcissists may occasionally feel bad and experience depressive episodes, but they have a diminished capacity for empathy and rarely feel genuine remorse for their actions. They often project their own insecurities onto others, viewing themselves as victims rather than acknowledging the pain they cause. While they may experience fleeting moments of regret when faced with significant crises, this is typically short-lived, as they quickly revert to their grandiose self-image and resume their predatory behavior. Ultimately, narcissists prioritize their own needs and desires, objectifying those around them without true reflection on their impact.


Narcissism=Evil?

Narcissism is characterized by a form of evil that is indifferent and often unintentional, as narcissists inflict pain on others without deriving pleasure from it or feeling remorse. This behavior stems from their rigid personality and self-centered nature, leading to a mechanical and thoughtless form of abuse that is more akin to a natural disaster than a conscious choice to do harm. The fascination with evil in society is linked to a desire to confront repressed aspects of our own nature, yet the reality of evil is often banal and bureaucratic rather than demonic. Ultimately, the actions of narcissists and psychopaths reflect a lack of empathy and a prioritization of their own needs over the well-being of others, resulting in collateral damage that is not premeditated but rather a byproduct of their self-absorption.


Simple Trick: Tell Apart Narcissist, Psychopath, Borderline

Narcissists maintain one stable aspect of their lives, referred to as an "island of stability," while the rest of their existence is chaotic and disordered, leading to misconceptions about their character. In contrast, psychopaths lack any stable elements in their lives, resulting in pervasive instability across all dimensions. There are two types of narcissists: those who create compensatory stability by stabilizing one area of their life while everything else is chaotic, and those who enhance instability by introducing chaos into all aspects of their lives when one area is disrupted. The distinction between narcissists and psychopaths lies in their emotional engagement and the presence of stability, with narcissists relying on external validation while psychopaths operate without emotional depth or continuity.


Narcissists: Alien Life-forms, Lack Empathy!

Narcissists lack the ability to empathize, which is what makes them seem like alien lifeforms, robots, automata, or machines. Empathy is what binds humans together and is the essence of what it means to be human. Narcissists cannot truly communicate with other people, including their family, friends, colleagues, and even therapists. They possess a form of empathy called cold empathy, which allows them to exploit, manipulate, and humiliate others.


Narcissist Responsible for His Actions

Narcissists possess a keen understanding of right and wrong and are capable of anticipating the consequences of their actions, yet they lack genuine empathy and regard for others. They view people as tools for their own gratification, treating them as interchangeable sources of narcissistic supply. While they can choose how to behave, they often reserve their worst treatment for those closest to them, as they take their supply for granted. Therefore, narcissists should be held to the same moral standards as everyone else, and special treatment should be avoided to prevent reinforcing their grandiose self-image.


Why Narcissist Never Says “ I Am Sorry”

Narcissists are unable to express remorse or apologize due to a combination of factors, including a false self that shields their vulnerable true self from the consequences of their actions, a sense of entitlement that leads them to believe they are above social norms, and a lack of empathy that prevents them from understanding the impact of their behavior on others. They often manipulate their environment and project their own issues onto others, viewing themselves as victims rather than acknowledging their wrongdoing. This grandiosity and belief in their own uniqueness create a disconnect from reality, allowing them to justify their harmful actions without feeling accountable. Ultimately, while narcissists can control their behavior when necessary, they choose not to, as they prioritize their own needs and desires over the well-being of others.


Discontinuous Narcissist's Multiple Personas

Narcissists lack criminal intent and do not engage in premeditated wrongdoing; their harmful actions are unintentional by-products of their fragmented identities. They perceive their past selves as entirely separate, leading to confusion and anger when held accountable for previous actions. This disconnection allows them to shift personas easily, adapting to new environments and sources of narcissistic supply without emotional attachment to their past. Ultimately, their inability to empathize and predict the consequences of their actions contributes to their amoral and resilient nature.


BEWARE! Narcissists, Psychopaths are Immoral, Amoral (Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development)

Victims of narcissistic abuse often experience shock and disorientation, categorizing their complaints into three main areas: the immorality of the narcissist's behavior, feelings of betrayal despite their sacrifices, and the inhumanity of the narcissist's actions. Narcissists and psychopaths lack any sense of morality, failing to progress through the stages of moral development outlined by Kohlberg, as they do not perceive others as separate entities or understand cause and effect. Their inability to form a cohesive self or recognize the existence of others leads to a complete absence of moral reasoning, making them incapable of moral behavior. Contemporary theories suggest that while narcissists and psychopaths may exhibit some primitive moral reasoning, they ultimately remain devoid of true moral understanding or empathy.


Narcissist: Accountable for His Actions?

Narcissists can usually control their behavior but choose not to, viewing accountability as a waste of time. They perceive themselves as superior and entitled, treating others as mere tools to fulfill their needs. While they may struggle with emotional regulation, they are aware of right and wrong and simply lack the empathy to care about the impact of their actions on others. Therefore, narcissists should be held accountable for their behavior, as they prioritize their own desires over the well-being of those around them.


Narcissist or Psychopath? What Are the Differences?

Narcissists and psychopaths share many traits, but there are important differences between the two. Psychopaths are less inhibited and less grandiose than narcissists, and they are unable or unwilling to control their impulses. Psychopaths are deliberately and gleefully evil, while narcissists are absentmindedly and incidentally evil. Narcissists are addicted to narcissistic supply, while psychopaths do not need other people at all.

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