Toxic Relationships — Covert Narcissist or Sociopath?
The Defense Tactics of Vulnerable Narcissists and people with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Covert narcissists and people with anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) are similar in two ways; they pursue people (supply) for their uses and hide false intentions behind a vulnerable image to do it.
Covert (vulnerable) narcissists and sociopaths have increased psychopathology and aggression compared to grandiose narcissists; they apologize and take the blame, in private, so long as that vulnerability keeps the supply in control.
Research published in March of this year suggests grandiose traits are psychopathic rather than narcissistic because grandiose regulatory behaviors reflect a lack of insecurity, whereas their insecurities drive vulnerable narcissists.
“Not all narcissists are psychopaths, but all psychopaths are narcissists” — Robert D. Hare.
Once narcissists and sociopaths lose control of a supply, that person becomes the target of manipulative tactics such as blame, projection, triangulation, and smear campaigns. Covert narcissists are more likely than a person with ASPD to use rationalization, projection, idealization…
