In our world, several personality types coexist. The narcissistic personality is increasingly in the news, and can be encountered anywhere and everywhere. It’s important to know how to deal with a narcissist when confronted with one.

In the rest of this article, you’ll learn what a narcissist is, how to recognize them, the types of narcissists and how to deal with them.

What is a narcissist?

According to psychoanalysts and doctors who have studied the subject, it’s a mental disorder in which the individual feels a visceral need to be admired, to make everything about him or herself, and cruelly lacks empathy towards others. This disorder is closely linked to egocentricity. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the narcissistic trait we all have from time to time. Yes, we all have them from time to time. Narcissists, on the other hand, make it a way of life. Before we look at how to deal with a narcissist, let’s find out more about aggressive and vulnerable narcissists.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NARCISSISM
There are two main types of narcissist: aggressive and vulnerable.

Aggressive narcissism is characterized by an over-inflated ego. The person concerned feels no embarrassment in saying so. They see themselves as nothing more than a “gift from “God”, and expect to be treated as such. The vulnerable narcissist, on the other hand, focuses on his fear of rejection. They vacillate between feelings of superiority and inferiority, depending on the situation they find themselves in. Unlike the first type, they develop a protective shell that becomes useless when the stress becomes too much to bear.

The difference between these two types is that the vulnerable narcissist presents himself with shyness, while the aggressive one is over-confident. The ultimate goal remains the same: to gain the consideration and admiration of others.

How to recognize a narcissist: 4 warning signs

We’ve probably all met a narcissist without knowing it. From now on, learn how to spot them so you know how to deal with a narcissist.

Overconfidence syndrome: the narcissist develops an unparalleled sense of self-importance. Everyone revolves around them, they’re all there is, and they don’t need anyone else. She believes herself to be superior and better than others. As a result, she can be haughty, arrogant and contemptuous.
Cruel lack of empathy: the narcissist is incapable of appreciating others, empathizing with them or feeling their emotions.
Visceral quest for grandiosity and admiration: whatever they do, they expect to be thanked for it. He’s firmly convinced that he deserves all the world’s attention. In fact, he sees himself as the center of the world.
Manipulative: Narcissists are true manipulators, ready to do anything to get what they want, because they believe they have every right to it. If you don’t know how to deal with a narcissist, you’ll soon find yourself in their trap.
Finally, narcissists are not ready to accept their condition when it is diagnosed.

Narcissists, male or female, are easy to expose. In love with their own voice, they constantly look for the expression of boundless admiration on their audience’s face. They demand constant support, and very quickly their complaints and criticisms become appalling. Because if it’s you who needs them, they can’t see or hear you anymore; for them, deep down, you can only be a mirror.

How to deal with a narcissist

Now comes the most interesting part. Narcissists can be, and are, very difficult to deal with. Whether at work, in a relationship, in a friendship or at home, it’s essential to know how to deal with a narcissist, otherwise you’ll suffer. Here are 8 tips for dealing with a narcissist for good.

TIP 1: LEARN TO RECOGNIZE A NARCISSIST
You can’t know how to deal with a narcissist if you don’t recognize him or her. Hence the previous paragraph. When you meet someone who annoys you with their egocentric remarks or who seeks greatness in everything, remember that there is a disorder that can lead to such remarks.

TIP 2: LISTEN
Remember, all a narcissist wants is attention. Give him some. Otherwise, he’ll feel offended and treat you coldly, at the risk of hurting you.

TIP 3: BE COMPASSIONATE
All you need to know about how to deal with a narcissist is that, in addition to their troubled personality, narcissists are also human beings with a deep-seated malaise and a cruel lack of confidence. It’s this state of unhappiness and lack of confidence that leads them to seek admiration from the outside world.

TIP 4: ACCEPT THE NARCISSIST’S LIMITS
The narcissist can be pleasant and cooperative with you if you feed his ego. Follow his ideologies while avoiding his psychological games. When you don’t agree with what he says, instead of responding and provoking his displeasure, simply smile and nod. This is easier said than done, but if you’re faced with such a person, you need to know how to deal with a narcissist to avoid further problems.

TIP 5: DON’T EXPECT TO PLEASE A NARCISSIST
Whatever you do, you need to know that you’ll never be able to live up to a narcissist’s expectations. They have an over-inflated ego, so they’ll always perceive you as inferior. Don’t take his criticism and remarks to heart, and look for your self-esteem elsewhere.

TIP 6: GIVE FEEDBACK IN A SIMPLE, DOCILE WAY
When you want to make remarks to a narcissist, go about it as gently as possible. You don’t have to say it yourself. You can bring him or her into the discussion to make the remark yourself. Clever, isn’t it?

TIP 7: AVOID DEBATING WITH NARCISSISTS
With a narcissist, you’ll never be right. Even when you win, you lose. The best thing to do is to avoid debates and talk as little as possible. Once you know how to deal with a narcissist, this shouldn’t be a problem.

TIP 8: AVOID TALKING ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS WITH A NARCISSIST
If your friend is a narcissist, you know right away that you can’t talk to him about your problems. He’s likely to turn the conversation around and make it all about him. You won’t get satisfaction and you’ll be disappointed.

What if the narcissist is very close to me?

All these tips are useful for those who encounter narcissists at work or in their external environment, but when the narcissist is very close to you (partner, parent, child) you also need to know how to deal with a narcissist.

In addition to the advice in the previous paragraph, you need to seek help from a specialist. To do this, you need to be methodical in your approach, so as to get to the bottom of the problem he or she is suffering from. You need to approach him and talk to him about it after a situation in which his ego has been shattered and he has felt completely diminished (illness, job loss, etc.). Make him understand that he’s hurting not only those close to him, but himself too. Discuss certain points with him. In his weakness, he’ll become aware of his condition and be ready to see a specialist.

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN DEALING WITH A NARCISSIST:

Avoid trying to change the narcissist by force, as this will not help;
Forcefully reprimand and reproach them;
Oppose and contradict them;
criticize and humiliate them.

Now you know how to deal with a narcissist for your own good and his. If you’ve ever had an experience with a narcissist, don’t hesitate to share it with readers in the comments.