Narcissist

Given their highly reactive traits and tendencies, narcissists need powerful defenses to protect their fragile egos from anxiety and depression.

. .”](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201110/the-narcissists-dilemma-they-can-dish-it-out), elaborates on their woeful inability to take criticism and learn from it. After all, as adults it's almost always considered a virtue to be autonomous and self-reliant, whereas the mere suggestion of neediness is generally associated with being weak. And it’s true that a merely inflated ego (vs. Rather than aim for meaningful achievements and genuinely intimate relationships that could effectively resolve their self-doubts, they choose instead to center their attention on fostering a false sense of superiority over everyone else. But all [narcissistic](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/narcissism) types are vulnerable in the sense that they’re afflicted with the most delicate of egos. However, falsely, they decide the most advantageous way to feel better about themselves is to rigidly—and routinely—denigrate others. And that youngster regrettably developed into a person desperate to protect their shaky ego by strenuously invalidating the legitimacy of anything experienced as antagonistically directed toward them. Their motive might merely be to offer constructive feedback or humbly express their hurt feelings caused by the narcissist’s gross disregard or disrespect for them. What dictates their almost instantaneous flight from vulnerability is a diffuse anxiety, generally unrecognizable to them, yet never that far below the surface. [DSM-5](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/dsm) does not define types of narcissism, experts and researchers have identified six different types. Yet, assuming we’re devoid of most narcissistic traits, we’re still more open and honest than narcissists can permit themselves to be. So however unconsciously, almost all of us develop defenses designed to protect us from unfavorable criticism.