Two-Factor Model

The two-factor model was developed by researchers to distinguish between the two main subtypes of narcissism, recognizing great variability in how people with these personality factors have emotional experiences and behave in social situations. They are: 

• Grandiose (overt) narcissism, characterized by a sense of entitlement, grandiosity, and a need for admiration — what most people regard as narcissism. 
• Vulnerable (covert) narcissism, involving a more reactive and anxious form of narcissism, often characterized by feelings of emptiness and a need for validation — but just as capable of emotional manipulation and cruelty as the grandiose type