How to tell if youre dating a narcissist

Everyone can be a little bit selfish, but an ongoing trend can point to a larger concern. Here are a few pointers on how to identify narcissistic behaviors in your partner. At the beginning of the relationship, he was an entirely different person. They proclaim their love for you—and very fast, too. Gradually, the relationship turned serious. Obviously, narcissistic tendencies make relationships difficult.

It's easy to throw around the word "narcissist " around without really knowing what it means: Whether you're talking about Kim Kardashian's selfie obsession, Madonna comparing herself to Martin Luther King , or Kanye West, er, just being Kanye, it's easy to forget that genuine narcissistic behavior is a recognized mental condition. Sufferers of what's called narcissistic personality disorder aren't just vain; they're grandiose about themselves to the point of obsession, charmingly manipulative, and often have a sociopathic lack of empathy towards others. We still don't know where narcissism comes from: The newest study thinks kids who are over-praised but under-loved as kids are most likely to become narcissists — but we're still essentially groping in the dark.

Someone prioritizes themselves and their feelings over what would be best for both of you. However, there's a difference between someone who is selfish and someone who is a serial narcissist. A narcissist is really someone who is projecting an idealized self whom they constantly personify to avoid feeling or being seen as their true selves.

Whether you've heard the Greek myth , met an anti-selfie advocate, or taken a psychology class, you've probably encountered narcissism in some shape or form. But what exactly is narcissism, and when does it become problematic in relationships? Or better yet , how can you spot a narcissist early on in the dating lifespan?