Trait Narcissism

Trait narcissism is an umbrella research term to describe narcissistic subtypes, especially the two most common, grandiose and vulnerable narcissism — and their specific personality patterns. Unlike narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), trait narcissism includes a spectrum (from healthy to unhealthy) of entitlement, grandiosity, defensiveness, or diminished empathy — especially under stress (or during a manic/hypomanic episode of bipolar disorder) — without meeting criteria for a clinical diagnosis.