Narcissist vs Egotist
Society often views both narcissists and egotists as undesirable individuals. These people have psychological disorders that hinder their social growth due to their obsession with self-love. It’s normal for others to avoid them to prevent confrontations, but it’s not always easy to know when you’ll encounter one.
Narcissist
A narcissist exhibits traits such as egotism, conceit, vanity, and selfishness. The term narcissism was coined by Freud, who drew inspiration from the Greek mythology character Narcissus, a pathologically self-centered young man who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool. Narcissists are often in love or attracted to themselves and may be indifferent to the needs of others.
Egotists
Egotists enhance favorable views of themselves and place themselves at the center of their world, regardless of others. Egotism exploits the sympathy and ignorance of others. Egotists often exhibit a “me, myself, and I” mindset, forgetting that others matter too. They may overreact to criticism by becoming angry, defensive, or blameful.
Key Takeaways
- Narcissists and egotists both show love for themselves, but they have distinctive traits. Narcissists are egotists, but not all egotists are narcissists.
- Healthy narcissism can exist, forming a constant, realistic self-interest and mature goals, resulting in feelings of greatness to compensate for insecurities and inadequacies.
- Egotists can overcome and master their psychiatric disorder with the help of self-help books and the support of family members.
