Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionCharacteristicsCausesTrust IssuesSignsHow to Deal
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Characteristics
Causes
Trust Issues
Signs
How to Deal
Communalnarcissismis a form of maladaptive narcissism. As the name suggests, it refers to inflated perceptions of oneself within a bigger setting than just their immediate environment.
Dr. Patrice Le Goy, LMFT, explains that “what makes itcommunalis that for these people, this narcissism takes place in social, community situations that may be focused in the charitable or benevolent arenas or may just show up as people trying very hard to appear as good and caring friends or coworkers.”
This means that communal narcissist utilizes their community, from friends to family to coworkers, to act out their narcissistic beliefs and feelings.
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Defining Communal Narcissism
Communalnarcissismbecame more well-known as a concept after a study on the topic was published in 2018 in the Journal of Research in Personality.
This means that someone who is a communal narcissist is primarily concerned with being seen as altruistic and benevolent, even if this is not the case.
Communal Narcissists Seek Praise
Unlike people with good, charitable intentions, a communal narcissist is a person who is only behaving well and helping others for the sake of receiving praise for their actions or being perceived as morally superior.
Communal narcissists may require this praise from their community because they do not believe in their own worth themselves, and need to get thatvalidationfrom others.
This is tricky because even if a communal narcissist is behaving in a way that appears to be valiant, their motivation is not to be helpful or kind. Rather, it’s to be perceived as acting helpful or kind.
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Characteristics of Communal Narcissism
It can be hard to tell that someone is a communal narcissist. That’s because initially, their personality traits probably make them seem like a lovely, caring person. However, as you get to know them, it may become clear that this person is not as great as they initially seemed.
Dr. Patrice Le Goy, LMFTThey [communal narcissists] also feel that no one else measures up to their expectations or can be as good of a friend or an employee or a philanthropist as they are.
Dr. Patrice Le Goy, LMFT
They [communal narcissists] also feel that no one else measures up to their expectations or can be as good of a friend or an employee or a philanthropist as they are.
“Communal narcissists are charming and appear to be incredibly helpful and warm,” says Le Goy. That’s why at first, you might not realize anything is wrong. As you get to know them, though, the narcissistic traits become apparent.
“They also feel that no one else measures up to their expectations or can be as good of a friend or an employee or a philanthropist as they are,” Le Goy tells us.
In addition to acting as though no one measures up to them, she says that “they have unrealistic expectations of others, a need for public validation, andgrandiosebeliefs about themselves and their capabilities.”
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What Causes Communal Narcissism?
Though you may suspect it’s not that big of a deal to be a narcissist, the truth is that narcissism negatively impacts the lives of the people who suffer from it, in addition to those they mistreat due to their condition.
“Narcissism often takes place when people have unmet needs and desire to experience those expressions of love and validation through any means necessary,” says Le Goy.
The development of narcissism is likely unintentional, and a communal narcissist may be entirely unaware of their problem.
People Affected By Communal Narcissism May Experience Trust Issues
Communal narcissism can impact people in a profoundly negative way. This is because a communal narcissist makes others think that their actions are pure in intent when really they are being performed for the sake of receiving praise and admiration and being perceived as special. In turn, this can cause trust issues in a larger capacity.
Impact on a Societal LevelLe Goy explains that “this can lead to a larger societal mistrust of people who are actually working to improve their communities and are not actually doing it only for the praise and validation.”
Impact on a Societal Level
Le Goy explains that “this can lead to a larger societal mistrust of people who are actually working to improve their communities and are not actually doing it only for the praise and validation.”
Signs That Someone You Know May Be a Communal Narcissist
Initially, when you first meet a communal narcissist, it’s unlikely that you will realize they are one. It can take time to see their personality traits and to realize that their intentions aren’t as genuine as you believed.
When someone does something nice for you, they should be doing so because they want to. However, if they immediately demand recognition, that may be a sign of communal narcissism.
If you see someone behaving in a way that makes them look like the “good guy” in public, but act quite differently behind closed doors, there is a chance they’re a communal narcissist.
There are many other ways in which communal narcissism can manifest:
How to Deal With Someone Who Is a Communal Narcissist
As you may be aware, telling a narcissist that you see through them isn’t likely to yield good results.
It’s Best to Set Boundaries
“If you have a communal narcissist in your life, it is usually not helpful to try to explain why you don’t think their intentions are legitimate,” says Le Goy. Instead of that, she tells us that “it is preferable to create boundaries so that you are not taken on their rollercoaster of emotions.”
Be Firm and Clear About Your BoundariesTheseboundariesshould be based on whatever interaction and relationship you are/are not comfortable with in relation to the narcissist, and you’ll need to be firm in those boundaries on an ongoing basis.
Be Firm and Clear About Your Boundaries
Theseboundariesshould be based on whatever interaction and relationship you are/are not comfortable with in relation to the narcissist, and you’ll need to be firm in those boundaries on an ongoing basis.
The 5 Things You Need to Do If You’re Dealing With a Narcissist
Don’t Allow Their Behavior to Change Who You Are
By being the best version of yourself, without expecting praise or admiration in response to your good deeds, you help create a better and more safe world.
What This Means For YouCommunal narcissists may try to convince you that they are genuine people, so it is up to you to trust your gut. If you have confusion about how someone is treating you, and you aren’t comfortable speaking to them directly about it, engaging with a therapist can help you better understand a way to move forward in that relationship.
What This Means For You
Communal narcissists may try to convince you that they are genuine people, so it is up to you to trust your gut. If you have confusion about how someone is treating you, and you aren’t comfortable speaking to them directly about it, engaging with a therapist can help you better understand a way to move forward in that relationship.
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3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.A wolf in sheep’s clothing? Communal narcissism and positive implicit self-views in the communal domain.Journal of Research in Personality. 2018;76:17-21.Kacel EL, Ennis N, Pereira DB.Narcissistic personality disorder in clinical health psychology practice: case studies of comorbid psychological distress and life-limiting illness.Behav Med. 2017;43(3):156-164.Communal narcissism: Social decisions and neurophysiological reactions.Journal of Research in Personality. 2018;76:64-73.
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.A wolf in sheep’s clothing? Communal narcissism and positive implicit self-views in the communal domain.Journal of Research in Personality. 2018;76:17-21.Kacel EL, Ennis N, Pereira DB.Narcissistic personality disorder in clinical health psychology practice: case studies of comorbid psychological distress and life-limiting illness.Behav Med. 2017;43(3):156-164.Communal narcissism: Social decisions and neurophysiological reactions.Journal of Research in Personality. 2018;76:64-73.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing? Communal narcissism and positive implicit self-views in the communal domain.Journal of Research in Personality. 2018;76:17-21.Kacel EL, Ennis N, Pereira DB.Narcissistic personality disorder in clinical health psychology practice: case studies of comorbid psychological distress and life-limiting illness.Behav Med. 2017;43(3):156-164.Communal narcissism: Social decisions and neurophysiological reactions.Journal of Research in Personality. 2018;76:64-73.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing? Communal narcissism and positive implicit self-views in the communal domain.Journal of Research in Personality. 2018;76:17-21.
Kacel EL, Ennis N, Pereira DB.Narcissistic personality disorder in clinical health psychology practice: case studies of comorbid psychological distress and life-limiting illness.Behav Med. 2017;43(3):156-164.
Communal narcissism: Social decisions and neurophysiological reactions.Journal of Research in Personality. 2018;76:64-73.
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