Narcissist or Psychopath? What Are the Differences?
Narcissists and psychopaths share many traits, but there are important differences between the two. Psychopaths are less inhibited and less grandiose than narcissists, and they are unable or unwilling to control their impulses. Psychopaths are deliberately and gleefully evil, while narcissists are absentmindedly and incidentally evil. Narcissists are addicted to narcissistic supply, while psychopaths do not need other people at all.
Narcissism: Genetics or Abuse, Nature or Nurture?
The debate over whether pathological narcissism is caused by genetics or upbringing is a confluence of both nature and nurture. Mental illness cannot be explained without considering our genetic makeup and neurophysiology. Narcissistic personality disorder is probably the interplay between a genetic template and the abuse and trauma heaped upon this inner computer. It is safe to attribute the development of narcissistic personality disorder mostly to the environment, to nurture not to nature.
Narcissists: Alien Life-forms, Lack Empathy!
Narcissists lack the ability to empathize, which is what makes them seem like alien lifeforms, robots, automata, or machines. Empathy is what binds humans together and is the essence of what it means to be human. Narcissists cannot truly communicate with other people, including their family, friends, colleagues, and even therapists. They possess a form of empathy called cold empathy, which allows them to exploit, manipulate, and humiliate others.