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Today we're going to look at two NPD traits: arrogance and the need to be special and associate with special people.

Arrogance

Arrogance is another defense mechanism that keeps the narcissist a legend in his own mind, free from the stain of the imperfection of other human beings. Remember, narcissists (and borderlines) split, seeing themselves and others in black and white. Someone has to be on top, and someone has to be on the bottom. Being judgmental and power hungry staves off the stink of imperfection.

Sam Vaknin, author of Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited, says, "Everything—from my body language to my choice of vocabulary—is intended to disabuse my surroundings of the notion that I am their equal. My posture, my speech, my opinions, and my mode of communication all convey my innate and indisputable advantage. I do not talk--I lecture. I do not agree or comply—I deign. I do not collaborate—I guide. I do not give advice—I preach. My arrogance and haughtiness are merely encoded messages bearing the information that I am one of a kind. They don't make them like me anymore."

Spouses say:

• In her highly abusive moments, her entire demeanor would change as she adopted highbrow attitudes, vocabulary, manner of dress,and feelings of superiority. She refused to do virtually any chores in the household for five years because they were beneath her and her alleged background of privilege and power.
• My husband bought at least 11 exotic, expensive cars in the space of four years. He always showed them off. I thought it was obnoxious that he brought them to work and had a different car every six months but he always brushed me off and told me I didn't know what I was talking about. He also did this every time he bought an expensive watch, like a Rolex.
• She will often foster relationships in which she can gain something or look good. Then, she would criticize them behind her back.
• When he was feeling good about himself, then he would act as if I wasn't good enough and that he needed to move on.He would say things like, "I don't know if you are what I want. I guess I'll never know.I think I want more and I know there are a lot of other girls that express their interest in me. Maybe I should be dating them."When I would say, that's fine, if that is how you feel I will walk away.But when I would say that then he would turn around and say, "No, I don't want to lose you."It was all a game.When I stop playing I became "evil."
• He thought he knew everything about everything and was often agitated if I knew about something he didn't or if I already knew about something that he was telling me about.

• She portrays this pretense of looking good, awareness, conscientiousness and many people "buy" into it. I am learning that it is a smokescreen because she is very unsettled inside of herself.

The Need to Be Special

Another NPD traits is, "Believes that he or she is special, unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)."

If you've been following this series this far, this trait should be no surprise. It's great to be better than everyone else and sometimes hang around with people who think you're the best. But as they say, it does get lonely at the top (well, at least it does for those narcissists who allow themselves to feel anything resembling pain).

A vulnerable narcissist says,

I feel like I am different than the rest of the world. I have torn the veil from my eyes and see things clearly while everyone else fumbles in the dark with distorted perceptions. When I find people like me (always powerful people or attractive women) I want to keep them close. In the case of women, I take two or three and pour my dark secrets into them to see how they respond; to see if they are like me and could possibly understand. They cannot.

People who are not special—the waitresses, secretaries, and janitors of the world—may be rudely treated by narcissists (and NPs may demand special favors to boot). They have no patience with those who are there to serve them, while making extra efforts to reach out to those who are as special (but not more special) than they are.

Some examples from family members:

• She only wanted to associate with people she deemed "spiritual"and more "conscious" than most people. Her friends had "higher" up jobs that she could benefit from, like attending cool parties, gatherings, workshops, poetry readings, etc.
• He thinks because of his wealth he is above others. He wouldn't go to my son's school fundraiser because the people there are "common." He needed to know, "Will anyone there be in tuxedos?"
• His kids go to schools where you have to be rich to afford the tuition. Even though we really can't afford it, they go because he likes to associate with the fathers: the famous football players and rich businessmen. He talks about who he knows all the time and makes them seems like best buddies even though he barely knows them.

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