What’s the difference between narcissism and self-esteem? One of them can be very close to the other. Narcissistic behaviors focus on their self-image and mask their real traits and emotions. On the other hand, self-esteem can be realistic and nurturing and focuses on the worth of a person.
How can having low self-esteem affect your relationships? Self-esteem is related to social dominance and self-evaluation, which are two processes related to self-expression and personal identity. People with higher self-esteem have a healthy self-image and are open and honest with regard to their true feelings. They value themselves highly and have high self-esteem. Those with low self-esteem have a distorted view of their own worth and often take advantage of others.
Narcissistic personalities are interested in getting their own way and see those who are not motivated to follow the rules as threats. Their basic need for control is satisfied through the use of power, manipulation, and the use of social norms and personal norms based on social dominance and group identity. In contrast, people with higher self-esteem have an ability to effectively communicate about values, communicate without manipulation, set reasonable goals, and set or meet appropriate standards. They are able to balance communication about important issues with their own needs and the needs of others.
If you look at narcissists self-esteem, it appears to be related to their lack of empathy and compassion. On the other hand, those who have high self-esteem and are able to think critically are able to better use the communication skills that they have to solve problems, meet goals, meet needs, and meet standards. In other words, those with higher self-esteem have more democratic norms and a greater ability to evaluate and improve themselves. Those with lower self-esteem spend most of their time complaining and blame others instead of taking responsibility and improving themselves.
So the big picture answer to the question posed in the title is that those with higher self-esteem are more likely to be narcissists. But it’s not just narcissists who have high self-esteem. Anyone can have high self-esteem and be a narcissist. It’s just that those with higher self-esteem have a different personality than those with low self-esteem and a different personality than those with a balanced mix of narcissistic and non-narcissistic personality traits.
Those with higher self-esteem can learn how to manage the competing narcissistic traits that make them who they are without succumbing to the other personality traits that make them narcissists. They can have high self-esteem but not be a narcissist. They can have high self-esteem but not be a dependent or an exhibitionist. They can have high self-esteem but not be an insatiable sexual dynamo.
The bottom line is that narcissists need others to make them feel good about themselves. In order to get what they want from life, they have to lie, cheat, and steal. They take advantage of the needs of others to get what they want from life. Those with higher self-esteem do not engage in these behaviors and if they did, they would not be self-absorbed and self-destructive.
So in summary, those with higher self-esteem are not narcissists and those with lower self-esteem are not self-narcissistic personality traits. Those with higher self-esteem are better able to meet their own needs than those with lower self-esteem. Those with higher self-esteem are more likely to become successful in life.
If you are unsure if you have higher self-esteem than you probably do, try this test. This is a test given to those who believe in their own self worth. It asks them to rate a photograph of themselves on a scale of 10. Those with higher self-esteem are happier with the photo, which suggests that their self-esteem makes them happier.
There is one problem with the test above. It is inconclusive. There may be a correlation between having a high self-esteem and narcissism, but it could also be that those with higher self-esteem are just as narcissistic as those with lower self-esteem. There are no facts to support the idea that those with higher self-esteem are not as narcissistic as those with lower self-esteem. They are just more likely to engage in the behaviors that would make them happy. For the moment, we are left with narcissism as the potential cause for the discrepancy.
Narcissistic behavior is a desire to have a great self-esteem and a great life. Having a healthy self-image along with high self-esteem is important for physical, mental, and emotional health. However, high self-esteem can be poisonous when people use it to take advantage of others. Those who are trying to figure out what the difference between self-esteem vs. narcissism is should keep in mind that in many cases, those with narcissism will lack self-respect, which can lead to all kinds of destructive behavior.