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Jade Small
Jade Small
November 29, 2023 ·  4 min read

12 Weird Things You Might See A Narcissist Do. Have You Noticed These Quirks?

There are some strange things narcissists do that aren’t usually mentioned as symptoms of their disorder but seem to be common enough that perhaps they should be included as additional criteria for NPD. If you know someone who does only one or two of these things, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a narc, but if they do several of them regularly and also seem to fit the more well-known criteria for NPD, these things could be red flags to watch out for.

12 things narcissists do that you should watch for

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Some narcs have a penetrating gaze. If a person looks at you this way, you may take it as interest (and it could be), but watch carefully: if they do not blink this could mean they are sizing you up as prey. Whether they blink or not, if their stare makes you squirm, get away. Listen to your instincts.

Read: A Narcissist Will Probably Never Walk Beside You. An Expert Explains Why.

They interrupt you or talk over you constantly

If someone only seems to care about what they are going to say next, and doesn’t even seem to have heard what you said, suspect a narcissist.

Whatever you tell them is really all about them

If you say something to them about yourself, rather than acknowledge you, instead they always relate it to back something that happened to them. You do not exist.

Their eyes look flat or dead

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This is a “dead” giveaway and those eyes usually belong to someone high on the spectrum–a malignant narcissist or a psychopath. Get away from this person.

Read: 10 Quotes About Narcissistic Abuse That Will Stab You in the Heart

They sometimes act psychotic

All malignant narcissists are crazy, and their delusions can rival those of someone with schizophrenia. In fact, narcissists denied supply over long periods of time or who have suffered a severe loss can in fact become psychotic. Schizophrenic-like neologisms and nonsensical conversation that sounds like word salad isn’t that uncommon in a malignant narcissist living in mortal fear of losing their “mask of sanity.

They have dramatic, unsettling mood swings

Narcissist mood swings (mask switching) can be so sudden and inexplicable you may think you’re dealing with someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). For example, a narcissist mother can seem to be happily playing with her child and suddenly, for no discernible reason, start screaming at or hitting the child.

They are bad sports

They will act like babies if they lose a game. I remember once seeing a grown man in his 40’s get so angry that he lost Monopoly that he picked up the game board and tossed it across the room, while everyone looked on in horror. If they can’t win, they will ruin the game for everyone else.

Read: 11 Comebacks You Can Use To Shut Down A Narcissist Immediately

They have dark interests or like things that make most people uncomfortable

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Narcissists, especially high on the spectrum, walk on the dark side and this shows in their obsession with things most of us avoid. They may listen to dark music such as death metal or watch slasher movies. Many people are interested in these things, but a malignant narcissist or psychopath, even if they put on a mask of being an upstanding moral citizen, usually have a secret hobby or interest in something dark or evil. They may not talk about it in public, but they have one.

They can’t let nature take its course

Some mortal fear of aging.

Read: Understanding Narcissism: The Why and How of Becoming a Narcissist

They have an affected way of speaking.

Dahhhh-ling, this can manifest as a fake foreign accent, or just a speaking voice that sounds fake and affected, as if they are acting on a stage. It comes off to others as more annoying than glamorous though.

They use exaggerated mannerisms, facial expressions, or speaking voice

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Like actors in silent movies, who used exaggerated expressions and mannerisms to make up for fact they couldn’t speak in those films, some narcissists (probably because they can’t feel emotions the way normal people can) overact to the point of being rather hilarious. This is also common in people with Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD), another Cluster B disorder that’s been speculated by some experts on personality disorders to be a somatic form of narcissism and is far more common in women.

They have conversations with themselves

I’ve heard many a narcissist talk to themselves–and actually answer themselves back. Does this mean they are insane? Do they hear voices in their heads? Or are they practicing what they might say to someone in a hypothetical conversation ahead of time (remember, everything they do is fake, so they might have to pre-plan how they will respond to others in advance).

Keep Reading: 5 Ways to Identify a Passive-Aggressive Narcissist