Ep 21:  Narcissistic Personality Disorder | The 9 Symptoms

Ep 21: Narcissistic Personality Disorder | The 9 Symptoms

Author: Dr. Rebecca Houvener, Psy.D. LCP February 11, 2025 Duration: 34:35
In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) delve into the complexities of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). We explore the historical origins of narcissism, the DSM criteria for diagnosing NPD, and the key characteristics of individuals with this disorder, including a lack of empathy and pervasive envy. Our conversation highlights the roots, characteristics, and the dual nature of narcissism, as well as the challenges in researching NPD. We highlight characteristics such as grandiose self-importance, the need for excessive admiration, and the interpersonal exploitation that can occur in relationships. We also give a preview on the vulnerable aspects of narcissism, highlighting how it can manifest as low self-esteem and social withdrawal, a topic that will be discussed in an upcoming episode! Chapters00:00 Intro to Narcissistic Personality Disorder01:07 Historical Context of Narcissism06:02 Defining Narcissistic Personality Disorder09:32 First Symptom: Lack of Empathy     10:52 NPD vs Autism14:24 Second Symptom: Envy15:46 Third Symptom: Fantasies of Success, Power, Beauty16:33 Fourth Symptom: Grandiosity17:55 Fifth Symptom: The Need for Specialness20:54 Sixth Symptom: Excessive Admiration22:22 Seventh Symptom: Entitlement24:17 Eighth Symptom: Exploitation in Relationships26:25 Ninth Symptom: Arrogance and Haughty Attitudes27:37 Vulnerable Narcissism References: American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5-TR (5th edition, text revision.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787 Blaney, P. H., Krueger, R. F., Millon, T. (Eds.). (2014). Oxford textbook of psychopathology (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. Blashfield, R. K., & Intoccia, V. (2000). Growth of literature on the topic of personality disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(3), 472-473. Millon, T. (2011). Disorders of personality: Introducing a DSM / ICD spectrum from normal to abnormal (3rd edition). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. South, S. C., Eaton, N. R., & Krueger, R. F. (2011). Narcissism in official psychiatric classification systems: Toward DSM-5. In Campbell, W. K. & Miller, J. D. (Eds.), The handbook of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder: Theoretical approaches, empirical findings, and treatments (pp. 22-30). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118093108.ch3

On the Personality Couch podcast, the subtle and often confusing tensions that shape our daily lives are brought into focus. Hosted by clinical psychologists Dr. Rebecca Houvener (“Doc Bok”) and Dr. Cheyenne Fisher (“Doc Fish”), this conversation moves beyond abstract theory to examine the real-world friction we navigate. Every other week, they take apart those puzzling interactions-the off-kilter feeling with a relative, the unexpected clash with a colleague-and trace them back to their roots in personality structure. Their dialogue is a practical exploration, offering listeners a framework to understand not just others, but their own reactions and patterns. You’ll hear detailed breakdowns of complex relational dynamics, all discussed with the clarity and nuance that comes from clinical expertise. The aim is to provide actionable insight, transforming confusion into comprehension. This isn’t about labeling people; it’s about deciphering the hidden language of human behavior that operates in our friendships, families, workplaces, and broader culture. By tuning in, you gain a shared vocabulary for the unspoken, making sense of the conflicts we all face but don’t always know how to address. The podcast serves as a guide for anyone looking to improve their connections and their own self-awareness, one conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Personality Couch
Podcast Episodes
Ep 43: The 6 Schizotypal Subtypes Explained [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:47
In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the 6 subtypes of schizotypal personality disorder, according to Dr. Theodore Millon. We outline Millon’s…
Ep 42: The Almost Psychotic Personality | Schizotypal in the DSM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) dive into the origins, diagnostic criteria, and oddities associated with schizotypal personality disorder and wh…
Ep 39: Schizoid vs Avoidant Personality | What's the Difference? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:53
In this episode of The Personality Couch, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) compare and contrast avoidant and schizoid personalities. While schizoid and avoidant personality disorders have overlap…
Ep 38: Unpacking Schizoid Subtypes | A Critical Look [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:56
In this episode of The Personality Couch, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) take a critical look at the subtypes of schizoid personality, critiquing existing definitions and theories, particularly…
Ep 37: Answering Viewer Questions About Schizoid Personality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:13
In this episode of The Personality Couch, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) answer your most-asked questions about schizoid personality. We address misconceptions about schizoid and settle its pro…
Ep 36: Schizoid Personality vs Autism | Are They The Same? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:45
In this episode of The Personality Couch, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the differences and similarities between schizoid personality disorder and autism spectrum disorder, and whether…
Ep 34: The Most Misunderstood Personality | Schizoid in the DSM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:20
In this episode of The Personality Couch, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) dive into one of the most misunderstood personalities: the quiet, awkward, and socially backwards schizoid. We take a cr…