Welcome to Autism Forums, a friendly forum to discuss Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, High Functioning Autism and related conditions.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:We hope to see you as a part of our community soon! Please also check us out @ https://www.twitter.com/aspiescentral
Interesting .... My guess is that someone autistic might unknowingly have a narcissistic behavior pattern. I truly believe that the narcissist knowingly and willingly engages in that behavior pattern. Perhaps they even enjoy it. My understanding of autism is that it is a neurological disorder rather than a personality disorder. Is it possible for someone to be both? I guess so?Since I’ve been off work recovering from surgery, I’ve had the opportunity to read a little more and do some research. One of the things I stumbled across was an interesting article on Narcissism, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and Narcissistic Individuals.
What I found answered many questions I’ve had concerning my mother and paternal grandmother, but it also caused me to contemplate Narcissism in relationship to those on the spectrum.
Do you think those on the spectrum or more apt to be Narcissistic, less Narcissistic, or do you believe it depends on where one is on the spectrum? Also, do you feel that environmental factors (how one was raised, parents, etc.) would play a part in one being a Narcissist?
Okay, let the discussion begin.
Your findings resonate with me because I too had several family members with narcissistic traits.I've studied narcissism in depth due to having family members with many of these characteristics (my therapist agrees though of course he can't formally dx any of them). I've also looked intently at the line between autism and narcissism, especially since one family member in particular seems to have both.
True!I think that many aspies/auties display narc-like traits when perceived by someone else, especially someone who lives closely with them like a spouse or a child, without actually having narcissism. On the AS end, there's often a limited sense of what the other person needs, and a limited ability to give it, and that feels to the other person like an extreme deficit in empathy (which is a core trait of narcissism but not necessarily of autism).
You have outlined it exactly.But I think there's a fundamental difference in what drives this lack of empathy between narcs and aspies/auties.
From my understanding, narcs are acting from a deep-seated fear of rejection. They have to present a perfected persona to the world in order to avoid any perceived possibility of rejection, and the higher functioning narcs tend to be pretty good at it. It also has a manipulative and/or forceful quality to it.
This. I have been working on this for the last ten years or so, especially when I realize that I am behaving like my mother or my sister. Then I am appalled into applying logic to the situation.I also think there's another reason why some aspies might look narcissistic. For female aspies, especially, we tend to emulate other people's social behaviors. In my case, both my father and step-father had strong narcissistic tendencies, and my mother showed both borderline and covert narc traits. As I tried to emulate them when I was younger, I picked up many of their relational patterns. But now as I'm learning the differences between narcissistic relationship behaviors and healthy behaviors, it's simply a matter of making different types of decisions in order to behave healthily instead of narcissistically.
This. I have been working on this for the last ten years or so, especially when I realize that I am behaving like my mother or my sister. Then I am appalled into applying logic to the situation.
The subject of Narcissism (or Narcissistic Personality Disorder) is one that I'm not ready to let go. Over the past few weeks I have been researching it and am finding a lot of answers. I'm also amazed at the similarities between it and AS; I'm also to the point of seeking another diagnosis just to make sure.
I grew up in a household with a VERY narcissistic mother and grandmother. There's no question about either, as both fit practically every criteria. The articles I read on the subject were disturbingly accurate. It's because of them that I wonder if my AS was misdiagnosed. Being a narcissist with a NVLD and PTSD could easily be misdiagnosed by a poorly trained metal health professional; finding a competent one now is quite difficult because of Obamacare. Yeah, the "change" has really done us a lot of good (enough with the politics).
With all that said, the following link is to an article I thought I'd share. Perhaps it will stimulate some thought and open another dialogue on the subject:
http://www.myaspergerschild.com/2015/05/is-it-aspergers-or-narcissism-or-both.html
Thank you!!! However, when I look back over the years, I can see I had many of the traits. If anything, I was/am borderline. I have learned how to overcome it and alter my personality considerably over the past 56 years.
However, when I look back over the years, I can see I had many of the traits. If anything, I was/am borderline.
If people interrupted and began to talk about other things, the narcissist retreated to a corner and physically curled up into a ball. If she was not the constant 'center of attention' she seemed to fold in on herself and retreat from the present. If people didn't listen to her, she called 911 and said she was having a heart attack. Sometimes several times a week.
On the other hand, my grandmother would always give me money. I've since learned that the generosity thing is another narcissistic trait. It's a way for them to draw attention to themselves; "Hey, look at me, I'm giving you money."