Criminal psychologist dr. Julia Shaw has discovered a simple way that she says can help identify narcissistic traits in people – and it all comes down to one short question.
Although the term “narcissist” is often used in everyday speech to describe egocentric and self-sufficient people, experts emphasize that it is a personality disorder that is relatively rare and present in a small percentage of the population.
dr. Shaw, who works with serious offenders, explains that psychological studies have reduced an earlier set of diagnostic questions to a simplified version known as the “narcissism single question.”
– It is literally just a question: ‘Are you a narcissist?’, said the psychologist, pointing out that the answer can be surprisingly informative.
According to herpeople with pronounced narcissistic traits will often not avoid confirmation, but will additionally “strengthen” it through the belief of their own superiority.
However, the expert warns that the term narcissism should not be used lightly in everyday situations.
– It is not useful to call someone a narcissist just because of conflict or anger. This diminishes the seriousness of the term and its real clinical importance, said Dr. Shaw.
He emphasizes that it is important to distinguish between everyday traits and serious personality disorders, so that professional terms are not misused in everyday speech.
