10 Subtle Traits Of A Person Who's A Narcopath (Narcissist + Sociopath)
Narcopath buse can be subtle until the curtain closes and your world is torn apart.
James Marty | Unsplash What do you get when you cross a sociopath with a narcissist? It is the least funny joke and the worst kind of hybrid: a narcissistic sociopath, narcopath for short. Both a narcissist and sociopaths have an inflated sense of how important they are, as well as a constant need for praise and admiration.
One commonality between them is their ability to fool others to get what they want without remorse. But what sets them apart is that a narcopath is unable to handle criticism or be viewed in a negative light, whereas a sociopath couldn't care less who thinks what or how they're perceived.
When you hear the word narcopath, you may picture a deranged villain, at least, that's what I pictured before I met my own. Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth.
Here are 10 subtle traits of a person who's a narcopath (narcissist + sociopath):
1. Things move from zero to one hundred in seconds
From the beginning, nothing is normal with a narcopath. Things progress at warp speed, hop-scotching over the usual stages of a relationship, as supported by research in the World Psychiatry Journal.
Instead of slowly getting to know one another, you go from the first date to planning your future together within weeks of meeting. And when your gut warns you things are moving too fast, you tell it to shut up because you've finally found your soulmate.
2. They're a broken record of compliments
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A narcopath will sweep you off your feet, place you on a pedestal, and then worship you from down below.
They'll tell you the things you’ve always wanted to hear, saying them over and over and over again.
But listen closely, and you'll notice there's not much variation in these love monologues, and their sweet-nothings sound more like a script than anything from the heart. "You're the prettiest. The hottest. The cutest. The best mom. The funniest." If everything feels staged and too good to be true, it probably is.
3. They flatter you with comparisons
There's no period at the end of a compliment. Instead, a narcopath compliments you by comparing you to someone else in their life.
In my case, he'd say things like, "You have such an alluring voice. Not too high nor too low; it's just perfect. My friend Courtney's voice is super high-pitched, and she has this weird way of talking through her teeth. Annoying." Or, "You have a great body. I guess I'm used to having more to hug with my ex!"
Praising you by putting down others is a huge red flag, not to mention incredibly distasteful. And while it's no doubt flattering to hear these praises, keep in mind that one day, they'll be offering them to someone else and using your name to fill the second blank.
4. Your chemistry is off-the-charts
You've never felt this much passion with anyone else. Pushing all the right buttons in just the right ways, it's like they're reading your mind and its desires. The reason the intimacy is so mind-blowing, at least in the beginning, isn't because they know what to do with their hands. They know what to do with your mind, as explored by a study in the Personality and Individual Differences Journal. They'll make you feel like you're the only one who's ever existed to them.
Yes, narcopaths are indeed that great ... at acting, that is. By mirroring your every emotion, they're able to make their own emotions seem genuine and fool you into thinking yours are real.
5. Their eyes are windows to nothingness
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My Narc-in-a-Box would stare at me with such intensity I'd become nervous, fidget, and quickly turn away. Speaking directly into my eyes with a deadpan and unwavering stare, I don't think he blinked once during our four months together. At times, his gaze was so piercing that his pupils practically vanished.
But sadly, behind all that intensity lay a vast amount of dark nothingness. I turned away from that stare because it made me feel uneasy in all the wrong ways.
6. They always lead the conversation back to themselves
On the surface, a narcopath seems hyper-focused on you and genuinely interested in learning all there is to know. Yet, the moment you begin divulging this information, they quickly interrupt with a story of their own.
A study in the Contemporary Psychoanalysis Journal suggests It's like a revolving door: They ask you a question to gain the opportunity to talk about themselves. They're quick to interject with their thoughts and opinions and always have a similar experience to share with you. Experiences that, once dissected, are nothing more than sweetly camouflaged one-uppers and indirect ways to let you know that they know better.
7. They have a checkered relationship history
I've never met anyone with such an odd and storied relationship history. He traveled to Texas after meeting a girl online, then met his ex-wife online, and later flew in another girl he met online (through a quiz website!) from Europe before finally meeting me online.
Narcopaths often leave long trails of broken relationships behind them, but, of course, they were never the ones responsible for breaking them. And no matter how long ago it ended, they'll claim all their former flames still burn strongly for them from afar.
8. They use big words that have little substance
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Have you ever read something that initially seems profound until you reach the end and realize it's nothing but a nonsensical jumble of fancy words? The American Psychological Association helps show that a narcopath craves superiority and thrives on being smarter than everyone in the room.
The only problem is that oftentimes they're not, forcing them to fake it and pray no one catches on. On the surface, a narcopath seems highly intelligent and cultured, but dig deeper, and you'll discover it's nothing but fluff.
9. They give because it makes them look better
Give, and you shall receive. Or, in the narcopath's case, give and tell everyone within a thousand-mile radius who you gave to and exactly how much.
A narcopath doesn't give because it makes them feel good on the inside. Rather, they give because it makes them look good from the outside, as shown by an article in Psychoanalytic Review. No kind deed goes unnoticed because they'd never allow it. Whether it's helping an old lady cross the street, giving a homeless person a buck, or donating to their children's PTA, they'll make sure someone knows about their generosity.
10. They're no stranger to the silent treatment
Narcopaths love to dish it out. You may see glimpses of this passive-aggressive form of punishment early on in the relationship, or it might come on suddenly out of left field. Either way, the silent treatment is, without a doubt, the vilest and most abusive trait that narcopaths possess.
Like a child, anytime they can't get their way or feel threatened, they stomp away with their arms crossed and punish you with a deafening silence. The harder you reach out, the more you cry, and the angrier you become, the better they feel.
It's normal for your partner to get angry, sulk, or brood sometimes. What isn't normal is using silence as a weapon to punish and control you, then sitting back and gaining pleasure from your pain.
If you think you may be experiencing depression or anxiety as a result of ongoing emotional abuse at the hands of a narcissist, you are not alone. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and is not a reflection of who you are or anything you've done wrong. If you feel as though you may be in danger, there is support available 24/7/365 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-7233. If you’re unable to speak safely, text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474.
Allison Zapata is a speaker, teacher, writer, a photographer, and is the author of the children's book Bernadette the Brave.