Advantages of being Narcissistic

Posted on November 16, 2018

Every human being is narcissistic, what differs is the extent to which one is narcissistic. Studies have shown that being Narcissistic to a certain extent might have a positive impact on the self. A healthy level of narcissism is possibly associated with mental toughness and achieving better academic results. Students who scored high on their exams are found to possess a moderate level of narcissism and are mentally stronger than people who are lower in narcissism.

Although people who are moderately narcissistic possess traits such as dominance, have an unrealistic sense of superiority and view themselves as better than others, it is not necessarily a type of personality disorder. It is less severe as the clinical type of narcissism, also known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), a psycho-pathological disorder.

Besides being related to mental toughness in teenagers, it is important to note narcissism as one of the traits categorized under the Dark Triad of personality traits which usually consists of Machiavellianism, Psychopathy and Narcissism. One who scores high on mental toughness will most likely show outstanding performance in diverse or high-pressured situations.

People who are moderately narcissistic can reap several benefits due to their enhanced sense of self-worth, possibly correlating to being highly motivated individuals, more assertive and successful in specific situations. being confident of one’s own capabilities is a possible sign of narcissism and the essence of mental toughness. Individuals with high mental toughness will welcome challenges and view it as a chance for personal growth.

Individuals who view challenges positively are more likely to view new experiences and change as a chance for personal growth rather than something they should fear. People who are moderately narcissistic are possibly highly open to new experiences and have more confidence to find new opportunities for self-growth. Moderate narcissism is also associated with the likelihood of having fewer depressive signs.

Narcissism is not a trait which can be categorized specifically as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. People should not view narcissistic individuals in a negative light. Society should re-examine their impression and prejudice towards narcissism. It is possible to perceive a personality trait or an emotion as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but psychological traits are the results of change and evolution, hence there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ to that. People should widen social morality conventions to include and commemorate all products of human nature.


Category(s):Child Development, Health Psychology, Self-Confidence

Source material from Psychology Today