April 23, 2024

Is it autism, narcissism, or both?
Let's talk about it.
I think autistic people are often mistakenly labeled as narcissistic for a couple of reasons.
1. Autistic people have extremely intense interests and an equally intense need to talk about them. On the other hand, we also have a really hard time processing information that is NOT of interest. So, in a social setting, we can come across as self-centered.
2. Autistic people can seem, on the surface, to lack empathy. This is not the case (believe it or not, the word "empathy" is not mentioned once in the autism spectrum disorder section of the DSM) and I'll explain why I believe this misperception exists in another video... but if you combine an autistic person talking about a certain special interest constantly... with an apparent lack of empathy... people who don't understand what narcissistic personality disorder is might think an autistic person is narcissistic.
So, let's talk about what NPD actually is...
According to the DSM, a person with NPD has to meet at least 5 of the 9 following criteria...
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (for example, exaggerates achievements and talents and expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
3. Believes they are “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
4. Requires excessive admiration.
5. Has a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with their expectations).
6. Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve their own ends).
7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to (note the word unwilling here) recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of them.
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
Ok, so a few things here.
First of all, a person can be autistic and also have NPD. However, the co-diagnosis rate is extremely low... between 0 and 6.4%.
So, the vast majority of autistic people are not narcissistic.
Yet, I think most of us have probably been told we are at some point in our lives. I know I have (not by anyone who really understood me, though).
My take... the main reason autistic people are mislabeled as narcissistic comes down to this... it's wording from the autism section of the DSM...
"What language exists is often one-sided, lacking in social reciprocity."
But NPD is so much more than just a lack of social reciprocity as is evident by the full list of criteria.
In another video I'll talk more about the internal autistic experience vs the internal NPD experience, as opposed to the external presentation of both, which is what I'm talking about now.
So, if that's of interest... follow for more.
And let me know in the comments if you found this video helpful. I'm curious to know if this distinction is one you've been wondering about.
Happy Autism Awareness Month 😊