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Psychopath or Narcissist?

Which would you rather be?

  • Psychopath

    Votes: 12 54.5%
  • Narcissist

    Votes: 10 45.5%

  • Total voters
    22

Amargith

Hotel California
Joined
Nov 5, 2008
Messages
14,717
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ENFP
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4dw
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sx/so
This needs definitions.
 
0

011235813

Guest
I guess I'd rather be a psychopath. They seem more in control over creating their own happiness whereas narcissists are hopelessly dependent on other people for theirs.
 

Hive

hypersane
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Messages
1,233
MBTI Type
ISTP
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9w8
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sx/sp
Psychopath, I think.

They're both assholish personalities and dangerous to their environment in similar ways. At least the psychopath isn't needy, entitled and starving for admiration.

I also suspect psychopaths to be better equipped for getting what they want and navigating through the world. They're often charismatic, charming and persuasive. Based on the NPD description you linked, narcissists seem to be openly condescending and arrogant, whereas a psychopath would be more covert and able to hide their pathology. This could possibly send the narcissist down a negative spiral: You act with assumed superiority, you're disliked by your peers for it and get angry because they don't recognize your excellence, possibly reinforcing the belief that plebeians just don't get you. A psychopath wouldn't give a fuck about any of that.
 

five sounds

MyPeeSmellsLikeCoffee247
Joined
Jul 17, 2013
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5,393
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729
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:unsure:

neither.

maybe narcissistic only because it seems like it could be resolved more easily.
 

Qlip

Post Human Post
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
8,464
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4w5
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sp/sx
Either fate is my chosen antithesis, a narcissist is what I try to steer away from being, and a psychopath is what I avoid steering into. I'd just kill myself.
 
L

LadyLazarus

Guest
I'm already kind of a narcissist, so I'll just stick with what I know.
 

badger055

Permabanned
Joined
Aug 29, 2012
Messages
570
I already have most of the dark triad traits. Don't knock it till you try it.
 

Opal

New member
Joined
Jan 16, 2014
Messages
1,391
MBTI Type
ENTP
I imagine life as a psychopath would be very flat, and life as a narcissist would be very inconsistent. The two do overlap some, though, maybe without the dependence usually associated with narcissism.
 

Azure Flame

Permabanned
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
2,317
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ESTP
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8w7
being a psychopath is fun but horribly black and white
 

kyuuei

Emperor/Dictator
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
13,964
MBTI Type
enfp
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8
Yeah, psychopathy is literally the go-to word for people to describe horrid people and situations. There's a reason we equate it on colloquial language with such negative contexts--being a genuine psychopath sucks. Psychopathic breakdowns are just.. painful to watch happen to others. There's such a huge disparity between normal social behavior and psychopathic mentalities. It's an entirely different realm.

However, I've dealt more with the other flavor of the what-if-question. I'd much rather be so narcissistic.. Not because it's any better.. but because there could be a connection to people in the process--an outlet of SOME sort, some motivator to become normal and maintain it.. there's a safety net there of caring about other peoples' opinions. My disorder would probably be out in the open far sooner--it's easier to call someone a narcissist and call them out on it. People are far more hesitant to try to self-diagnose psychopaths as being what they truly are.
 
G

Ginkgo

Guest
Yeah, psychopathy is literally the go-to word for people to describe horrid people and situations. There's a reason we equate it on colloquial language with such negative contexts--being a genuine psychopath sucks. Psychopathic breakdowns are just.. painful to watch happen to others. There's such a huge disparity between normal social behavior and psychopathic mentalities. It's an entirely different realm.

However, I've dealt more with the other flavor of the what-if-question. I'd much rather be so narcissistic.. Not because it's any better.. but because there could be a connection to people in the process--an outlet of SOME sort, some motivator to become normal and maintain it.. there's a safety net there of caring about other peoples' opinions. My disorder would probably be out in the open far sooner--it's easier to call someone a narcissist and call them out on it. People are far more hesitant to try to self-diagnose psychopaths as being what they truly are.

Good points. My hypothesis was that most people here would vote in favor of psychopathy, even though narcissism bares a closer likeness to the psyche of an "average" individual.
 

Elfboy

Certified Sausage Smoker
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
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9,625
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narcissist (which is probably a good thing, cuz I didn't get much of a choice in the matter lol)
 

highlander

Administrator
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Dec 23, 2009
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26,562
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INTJ
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sx/sp
I think I would have a very hard time being either one. I knew a person once who suffered from NPD and she was an awful person - very charming but very destructive and harmful to others they were around. Both seem terrible to me.
 

AzulEyes

New member
Joined
May 16, 2012
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622
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ENFP
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7w6
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sx/so
I chose narcisist. I hate them- but I feel they are just hopelessly annoying versus psychopaths who leave much damage in their paths.
 

Mel94

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Apr 6, 2014
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ENFx
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732
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so
I chose psychopath because as long as I had a sense of ethical direction, I could be like some unfearing psychopath.
Narcissism seems to imply that I would rather be admired than have any direction, so I'd rather my lack of emotion went towards the right direction because I'm feeling right now and if I stopped feeling I at least appointed the direction and I'd make sure I went the right road like a torpedo, least my feelings at this moment fired that gun.

I wouldn't choose either though and I won't, I'd rather feel me and "me" isn't a narcissist or psychopath.
 

Animal

So carnal it's spiritual
Joined
Mar 9, 2013
Messages
650
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SeFi
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4
I used to want to be a psychopath. I don't anymore - I am happier overall when I'm more vulnerable, even though its painful.

I am already a little narcissistic. I would not want to be more narcissistic, but I've been close with a narcissist who is .. while difficult and annoying.. still a person who inspires me.. so I guess it's not that bad.
 
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