We can now see narcissism in the brain. A brain scan of people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) shows less brain matter in areas associated with emotional empathy. Actually, this is the first time anyone has seen the proof of narcissism in brain structures.
One of the hallmarks of NPD is the inability to feel empathy. Furthermore, researchers have found that people with this disorder can take another person’s perspective in a purely intellectual way. However, narcissists find it difficult actually to feel what another person is going through.
Researchers from German recently did a study of why people with NPD lack emotional empathy. They obtained MRI brain scans of 17 individuals with NPD and 17 people from the population to compare. They first examined the overall brain volume and found that individuals with NPD were much similar to the healthier people. That is, both groups brains’ were similar overall.
The researchers then studied the brain areas that are believed to be associated with empathy (i.e., anterior and median parts of the cingulate cortex, bilateral anterior insula, and the supplementary motor area). They found that patients with NPD have less brain matter in areas overlapping with the areas associated with empathy (i.e., rostral and median cingulate cortex, left anterior insula, and dorsolateral and medial parts of the prefrontal cortex).
Simply put, the empathic areas of the brain are less developed in people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).
Besides, this Disorder affects about 1% of the general population and has shown to impair interpersonal functioning.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking research will likely help legitimize the disorder and, ironically, help people empathize with those suffering from this illness.
By Dr. Syras Derksen
Winnipeg Psychologist
Reference:
Schulze, L., Dziobek, I., Vater, A., Heekeren, H. R., Bajbouj, M., Renneberg, B., Heuser, I., & Roepke, S. (2013). Gray matter abnormalities in patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47, 1363-1369. (http://www.journalofpsychiatricresearch.com/article/S0022-3956%2813%2900157-X/abstract)
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