Types of Narcissism: Grandiose, Vulnerable, and Related Patterns Explained

When people come to counselling after a difficult relationship with a parent, partner, or manager, they are often relieved simply to learn that the behaviour they experienced has a name. "Narcissism" is frequently used as a single label, but the research behind it describes something more layered. Psychologists generally distinguish two broad presentations, grandiose and vulnerable, and researchers have proposed several related constructs to explain why narcissistic behaviour can look so different from one person to the next (Miller et al., 2017). Understanding this structure can help you recognise what you lived through more clearly. It can also help you avoid reducing a person's behaviour to a single stereotype.

This article is intended as psychoeducation rather than diagnosis. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, listed as a single clinical category, and the DSM-5 also describes a dimensional model for personality disorders (Weinberg & Ronningstam, 2022). The phenotypes and related patterns described below are research constructs used to describe patterns of traits, not separate disorders in their own right. Some of them, particularly malignant narcissism, are still debated, and the article says so where the evidence is limited. Only a qualified mental health professional can assess whether an individual meets diagnostic criteria.

The two primary expressions of narcissism

Research has consistently identified two broad expressions of narcissistic traits, generally referred to as grandiose (or overt) narcissism and vulnerable (or covert) narcissism. Both are thought to share a core of entitled self-importance, but they diverge in temperament, presentation, and response to threats to self-esteem (Krizan & Herlache, 2018; Miller et al., 2017). The behavioural descriptions below reflect common clinical description rather than the findings of a single study, and individuals vary widely.

Grandiose narcissism

Grandiose narcissism is the more visible and widely recognised presentation. Miller et al. (2017) describe it as overtly immodest, self-centred, entitled, and domineering. In everyday terms, it is often associated with extraversion, social boldness, charm, and a stable, inflated sense of superiority. People with strong grandiose traits tend to seek admiration actively, dominate conversations, and present with confidence that can initially seem magnetic. When challenged or criticised, they more often respond outwardly, with defiance, irritation, or open hostility, than by withdrawing.

Vulnerable narcissism

Vulnerable narcissism is quieter and considerably harder to identify from the outside. Miller et al. (2017) describe it as self-centred, distrustful, neurotic, and introverted, and it is commonly associated with anxiety, hypersensitivity to criticism, and a fragile sense of self-worth. Beneath this, the same entitlement and self-focus found in grandiose narcissism are present, but they tend to be expressed through withdrawal, defensiveness, and a persistent sense of being underappreciated or misunderstood. When challenged, a person with strong vulnerable traits is more likely to become anxious, ashamed, or resentful, and may use guilt or a sense of victimhood to manage the interaction rather than confronting it directly.

Why the two can overlap in the same person

Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are usually only weakly related in the general population, which means most people display more of one pattern than the other. A large preregistered individual-data meta-analysis found that this changes at high levels of grandiosity: the association between the two strengthened as grandiose traits rose, with strong evidence on the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory and weaker evidence on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (Jauk et al., 2022). Earlier research found that the two presentations blend into a shared antagonistic core at higher levels of grandiosity (Jauk & Kaufman, 2018). Clinical reviews likewise describe co-occurrence of grandiose and vulnerable presentations in people with high levels of grandiose narcissism (Weinberg & Ronningstam, 2022).

The authors of the meta-analysis suggest that this pattern may reflect a person moving between confident and wounded states over time, but their data came from trait questionnaires and cannot test that directly (Jauk et al., 2022). The explanation is therefore a hypothesis, not an established finding. Clinically, it offers one possible reading of why someone who appeared entirely self-assured can seem fragile and aggrieved after a setback or a perceived slight. Partners and family members often describe "walking on eggshells" around unpredictable shifts in mood, although research has not established that such shifts are the cause.

There is also evidence that the practical consequences of the two presentations differ. A systematic review of 14 publications from forensic mental health settings found that grandiose narcissism was strongly related to proactive violence and low treatment responsiveness, while vulnerable narcissism was associated with reactive aggression mediated by impulsivity and negative emotion (Keune et al., 2021). This research involved offender populations and should not be generalised to people in everyday relationships. It does show that the two presentations are not interchangeable in risk-related research.

For a closer look at the fragility that can sit beneath a grandiose exterior, see the pettiness of the narcissist. How the two presentations can combine in a relationship is discussed further in what happens when two narcissists marry.

Related patterns: communal, antagonistic, and malignant narcissism

Beyond the grandiose and vulnerable distinction, researchers have described related constructs that help explain how narcissistic traits are expressed in particular settings, such as caregiving, rivalry, or aggression. These are not three parallel subtypes. Communal narcissism is generally treated as grandiose narcissism pursued through communal means, antagonism is a trait dimension that runs through both main presentations, and malignant narcissism is a proposed syndrome whose evidence base is still developing. Each is described below with that status in mind.

Communal narcissism

Communal narcissism describes people who seek admiration, esteem, and a sense of superiority through communal means rather than agentic ones. Instead of boasting about intelligence or achievement, a communal narcissist is more likely to present as the most caring, generous, or self-sacrificing person in a group. Across two studies, Nehrlich et al. (2019) found that communal narcissism was unrelated to objective prosociality but was related to higher self-rated prosociality, and that communal narcissists showed substantial prosociality self-enhancement, whereas people low in narcissism showed none. A self-report measure of communal narcissism, the Communal Narcissism Inventory, has shown a bifactor structure across Polish and United Kingdom student samples (Żemojtel-Piotrowska et al., 2016), although that research concerned measurement rather than lived experience of relationships. Clinically, this pattern can be especially hard to recognise in caregiving, religious, or helping-profession contexts, where a public reputation for kindness may be difficult to reconcile with the experience of those closest to the person.

Antagonism as a shared core

Antagonism, meaning rivalry, exploitativeness, and a tendency to treat relationships as competitive, is better understood as a trait dimension than as a separate subtype. Both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism have been found to draw strongly on antagonism at their common core (Jauk & Kaufman, 2018). In practice, antagonism often looks like a person who cannot let a disagreement pass without contesting it, who frames interactions as winning or losing, and who finds it difficult to offer support without expecting something in return. This description reflects clinical observation, and it applies to some people with narcissistic traits far more than to others.

Malignant narcissism

Malignant narcissism is a proposed construct rather than an official diagnosis. It is described as combining narcissism, psychopathy, sadism, paranoia, and aggressiveness, and its researchers acknowledge a lack of empirical evidence on the syndrome (Faucher & Gamache, 2024). A scoring procedure for measuring it with the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 has been developed and tested in clinical and community samples (Faucher et al., 2022). In a nonclinical sample of 1,151 participants, malignant narcissism was most strongly associated with Machiavellianism and psychopathy, which led the researchers to describe it as mainly an antagonistic psychopathology (Faucher & Gamache, 2024). Clinical experience suggests that relationships involving this pattern can carry a higher risk of manipulation, coercive control, and harm, but the research does not yet allow firm statements about how often this occurs.

Where a relationship involves intimidation, threats, or fear for your safety, planning for safety needs to come before emotional processing. If you are in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services and refer to our emergency resources page. When something cannot wait, urgent counselling sessions are available.

What shapes narcissistic traits, and can they change?

Researchers describe NPD as having a multifactorial origin, with developmental and temperamental antecedents alongside difficulties in self-esteem regulation, emotion regulation, cognitive style, interpersonal relating, and empathy (Weinberg & Ronningstam, 2022). No single cause has been established, and this research does not support the idea that any one parenting style or event explains narcissistic traits. The role of early relationships is explored from an attachment perspective in the hidden link between attachment trauma and narcissistic relationships.

Longitudinal studies suggest that people with NPD can improve, although improvement tends to be gradual and slow, and most treatments developed for the disorder share clear goals, attention to the treatment frame, alliance building, and attention to relationships and self-esteem (Weinberg & Ronningstam, 2022). Clinically, change depends heavily on the person's own willingness to engage with therapy, which can be difficult when they do not experience their behaviour as a problem. This is discussed further in why narcissists think their behaviour is normal. For someone in a relationship with a person who has these traits, the possibility of change and the question of their own safety and wellbeing are separate matters.

Narcissistic traits, NPD, and who can assess them in Singapore

Narcissistic traits exist on a spectrum, and many people show some degree of grandiose or vulnerable traits without meeting the threshold for NPD (Krizan & Herlache, 2018). Weinberg and Ronningstam (2022) report that NPD is found in roughly 1 to 2 per cent of the general population, with higher rates in clinical and private outpatient settings. A formal diagnosis requires a structured clinical assessment, which in Singapore is typically carried out by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Counselling focuses on support, understanding, and change in present difficulties rather than on diagnosis, and a counsellor can help you decide whether a formal assessment would be useful. A guide to which mental health professional is right for you explains how these roles differ.

Why this distinction matters in recovery

Many clients arrive at counselling describing a relationship that does not fit the stereotype of an obviously arrogant, attention-seeking narcissist. These experiences can be harder to name and process precisely because they do not resemble the grandiose stereotype. Typical examples include:

• A parent who constantly framed themselves as the family's long-suffering martyr.

• A partner who dissolved into wounded silence whenever a concern was raised.

• A manager whose public image as generous and supportive never matched how they behaved behind closed doors.

Recognising vulnerable, communal, or antagonistic patterns for what they are can validate an experience that otherwise felt confusing or difficult to explain to others. When the other person's reactions leave you doubting your own perception, gaslighting: how narcissists make you doubt your reality may help you make sense of what is happening.

Setting boundaries

In clinical practice, the likely response to a boundary often depends on the underlying pattern. This is clinical observation rather than a research finding, and individuals vary. Someone with predominantly grandiose traits may respond with open confrontation, while someone with predominantly vulnerable traits may respond with guilt, withdrawal, or a sense of being persecuted. Neither response means the boundary was wrong; it simply reflects the underlying pattern.

Working through this in individual counselling can help you set boundaries that hold steady regardless of how the other person reacts. The client concern page on boundaries and assertiveness outlines how this work can look, and you can learn more about the wider process in healing after narcissistic abuse: what recovery actually looks like. Couples counselling can be useful where both partners are willing to look honestly at these dynamics together. It is not usually advisable where there is coercive control or fear, and safety should be assessed before any couples work begins.

Recognising these patterns in a Singapore family or workplace

Clinical experience suggests that cultural context can shape how these dynamics are experienced and how hard they are to name. In Singapore, expectations around filial duty, family harmony, and respect for seniority can leave people feeling torn between loyalty and self-protection, particularly when the pattern involves a parent or other older relative. In the workplace, a manager's authority and the importance of maintaining a good working relationship can make it harder to challenge behaviour or seek help. These are clinical observations rather than research findings, and every family and workplace differs. Support is available for adult family conflict and estrangement and for workplace issues.

If you recognise these traits in yourself

Reading about these patterns can prompt some people to wonder about their own behaviour. Having some narcissistic traits is common and does not mean that you have NPD, since the traits exist on a spectrum (Krizan & Herlache, 2018). It can be more useful to notice recurring difficulties, such as repeated conflict in close relationships, intense sensitivity to criticism, or a persistent sense of being misunderstood, and to explore them with a qualified professional. Because change in this area tends to be gradual (Weinberg & Ronningstam, 2022), steady engagement over time matters more than a quick answer. Individual counselling is one place to explore this without judgement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is narcissism always a personality disorder?

No. Narcissistic traits exist on a spectrum, and many people show some degree of grandiose or vulnerable traits without meeting criteria for NPD, which is found in roughly 1 to 2 per cent of the general population (Krizan & Herlache, 2018; Weinberg & Ronningstam, 2022). The patterns described in this article are ways of understanding traits and tendencies, not standalone diagnoses.

Can a person be both grandiose and vulnerable?

Yes. Research indicates that at higher levels of grandiose traits the two patterns become more closely associated, although the evidence cannot yet show whether this reflects shifts between states over time (Jauk et al., 2022).

Is vulnerable narcissism the same as covert narcissism?

The terms are often used interchangeably, and both refer to a quieter, more hypersensitive presentation. The label matters less than the specific, repeated behaviours you are experiencing.

How do I know which pattern I am dealing with?

Rather than trying to fit someone into a single label, it is usually more useful in counselling to describe specific, repeated behaviours and how you respond to them. A therapist can help you identify patterns and plan a response that suits your particular situation.

Can narcissistic traits change with therapy?

Longitudinal evidence suggests that people with NPD can improve, but improvement tends to be gradual and slow (Weinberg & Ronningstam, 2022). In clinical experience, it also depends on the person's own motivation to engage. Your own wellbeing does not need to wait for that change.

Can a counsellor diagnose NPD?

Diagnosis is typically made by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist through a structured assessment. A counsellor can offer psychoeducation and support, and can help you decide whether a referral for assessment would be useful.

Is it safe to set boundaries with someone who shows malignant traits?

This depends heavily on individual circumstances, including whether there is a risk of retaliation or escalation. If you are concerned about a relationship involving intense hostility, exploitation, or a wish to see you harmed, it is worth raising this directly and early with a counsellor so that safety can be planned alongside emotional support.

What to do if you recognise these patterns

If you recognise these patterns in a relationship, whether with a partner, parent, family member, or colleague, narcissistic abuse counselling at The Bridge Counselling is designed to help you make sense of what you have experienced and rebuild your sense of self-trust.

The abuse cycle is explored in more depth in understanding narcissistic abuse and the personality patterns behind it. If you are weighing up next steps, why narcissistic abuse is so difficult to leave may be useful, and for experiences that are hard to pin down, you can read recognising narcissistic abuse: real life situations that can be difficult to identify.

Where the relationship is ongoing and both people are willing, couples counselling can be considered once safety has been assessed. Sessions are available in person or through online counselling, and what to expect at your first visit is explained in advance.

To arrange a session, please visit the booking page or contact us directly.