What is a Comprehensive Definition of a Covert Narcissist?

Making sense of the senseless

You’ve heard the term. Maybe you believe you’re in a relationship with one.

But can you be sure?

Lots of people throw around opinions and experiences.

But what are the facts? What exactly is covert, or vulnerable, narcissism?

And more importantly, how do you interpret clinical criteria in your own relationships? What does it look like?

The most described criteria come from DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, American Psychiatric Association), though these criteria were updated to include alternative criteria in 2011.

According to DSM-IV, diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder requires five or more of the following nine criteria:

An overt narcissist visibly displays these characteristics. It’s easy to recognize one. You know, they’re the person that feels they’re God’s gift to humanity.

While a covert narcissist also holds many of these attitudes and beliefs internally, they are wise enough to know that expressing them to others is off-putting, so they take an entirely different tack.

The covert, vulnerable narcissist presents themselves as a victim and as the unlikely hero in every story. They have a seemingly humble, self-deprecating way about them. They don’t brag. They aren’t outwardly powerful.

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