>>11981000Requirements for Narcissism:
>1. The character's personality is overtly permeated by their own grandiosity. In all their interactions with others, a pathological narcissist firmly believes themselves to be vastly superior to those around them and (more importantly) expects recognition of this "fact". While capable of faking humility, all narcissists are angered by the mere hint they are being denied the recognition "owed" to them. Likewise, they deeply resent anyone who draws attention away from them or in any way encroaches on their claim of superiority. The "extinction burst" is a well-known phenomenon when someone finally calls them out on their bullshit and makes the narcissist realize that they can no longer control them. The more arrogant and prideful examples are likely to unleash a gigantic torrent of verbal abuse, while the more depressive ones will instead launch into a massive pity party about how much worse the target has made their life. Either way, escalations into physical attacks, scorched-earth revenge campaigns, or even faking a suicide attempt just for the attention are not at all uncommon.
>2. The character is self-absorbed to the point that they consistently prioritize their own desires at others' expense. Due to their grandiose sense of entitlement, narcissists have little (if any) qualms disregarding others' needs and personal boundaries to further their goals. If they do take someone else's needs and desires into consideration, then it is likely an opportunity to grandstand for attention by congratulating themselves for their sheer magnanimity, or, worse, as a bargaining chip or to have something to hold over the other person in the future.
>3.The character is extremely self-conscious of how they're perceived by others. Despite having little regard for those around them, their peace of mind hinges on receiving recognition of their self-importance from others. However, unlike a character with Acquired Situational Narcissism, a pathological narcissist's grandiosity is not dependent on others' validation. Rather, it is the fact that these characters' egos are so inherently bloated that they perceive anything less than near-constant praise and adulation as a grievous injustice. Don't count on them to give anyone else the same level of respect they expect to receive for themselves. If they absolutely must acknowledge the superiority of another, they'll give the shallowest of lipservice.
>4.The character regularly displays a glaringly low tolerance for criticism and a blatant unwillingness to take responsibility for mistakes or outright wrongdoing. If someone dislikes them, the only possible reason is that the other person is a "hater" who's just jealous or inherently negative. Any apologies for toxic behavior, if they do come, are either insincere formalities or attempts to shift blame and save face, and either way are hollow and meaningless because the narcissist doesn't actually believe that they did anything wrong, but they also know that they only stand to lose by not deigning to apologize. On the upside, a narcissist's obsession with projecting an image of infallibility renders them capable of internalizing at least SOME set of moral guidelines.
>5.The character has an insatiable appetite for acclaim and power. Regardless of how much success or popularity they obtain, a narcissist's bloated sense of entitlement will always leave them unsatisfied in the long-term. Consequently, such characters inevitably feel driven to seek out ever greater levels of self-aggrandizement. As a result of their self-centeredness and diminished empathy, narcissists have little (if any) qualms flouting rules and personal boundaries to further such aims. Their success and overall functionality is contingent on how good they are at selling themselves to people and keeping them hooked; even the highest-functioning examples can have everything come crashing down when they piss off or hurt the wrong people, and low-functioning examples are generally friendless, unsuccessful losers whose lives are marked by ceaseless drama, a revolving door of people, and a persistent "weight of the world"/"eternal sufferer" attitude born from continual perceived victimhood.
