How to distinguish a narcissist from a psychopath using examples from movies?

Every now and then we hear abusive and manipulative people classified as narcissists and psychopaths. But in practice these personalities are almost indistinguishable from each other: not all psychopaths are murderers, and narcissists are not at all overly focused on themselves. And caricatured depictions often have little to do with reality. Let’s try to understand how they differ from each other.

Who are the Machiavellians?

Let’s start with the fact that there are much more narcissists than psychopaths. Also, according to the theory of psychologists Delroy Paulhus and Kevin Williams, there is an intermediate type among the representatives of the “dark triad” – Machiavellians. They got their name in honor of the Italian politician and philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli, who in his famous work “The Prince” described the image of an ideal prototype inspired by a real historical figure, Cesare Borgia. This Renaissance politician was distinguished by his unscrupulousness, poisoning of his opponents, and cunning intrigues.

In simple words. Machiavellians – people for whom the end justifies the means. These should not be underestimated. They are capable of betraying and even killing, but not out of bloodlust, but out of calculation. They have no moral principles, so they can be pretty sure that they are saving millions of lives through small sacrifices. Often people with this type of thinking enter business, military affairs and politics, where they easily overcome their rivals. They also love loud slogans, medals, awards while striving for achievements. They are often called “devil’s advocates” because after talking to them you can no longer tell good from bad.

How to recognize a Machiavellian? A striking example is the main character of the series “Ray Donovan”, played by Liev Schreiber. The actor played a professional mechanic who “cleaned up” celebrities’ reputations. When his accusations become a scandal, he resorts to various methods: intimidation, blackmail, emotional abuse. He manipulates the press, communicates with gangsters, and writes anonymous letters to protect the film company’s reputation. At the same time, everything in family life is bursting at the seams.

Another typical Machiavellian is Bryan Cranston’s hero in the TV series Breaking Bad. In the story, chemistry teacher Walter White, whose opinion no one takes into account, learns that he has cancer and begins to engage in an illegal business of producing banned substances with his former students for the sake of his family. His empire is growing, and with it the number of his rivals and enemies. Over time, he begins to eliminate his opponents himself. At the same time, he manages to keep this secret from his family for a long time and even mislead his police relative. When the infidelity is revealed, he cannot give up the job for the sake of his family because his voice is important in this business. He can’t become invisible again.

Rosamund Pike, the heroine of the crime drama “The Con Artist”, also lives by the principle “the strongest wins.” Fraudsters seize the inheritance of rich old people who are on the verge of death, using their tutelage as an excuse.

How can we distinguish narcissists from psychopaths?

Daffodil

Narcissists’ leading emotion is shame, which is why they are so obsessed with perfection. They are capable of experiencing love and affection in their own way, but often this is not associated with an adequate perception of reality. Narcissists idealize their partners and are willing to serve them to gain approval. But their love falls apart when the fog clears and they see a man dressed in an ordinary dressing gown, with bruises under his eyes and confusion in his head. And then the depreciation phase begins. Often, already in childhood, their parents endowed them with a superduty, did not forgive mistakes and evaluated them only by their achievements.

A perfect example of a narcissistic mother is shown in the series White Oleander. Michelle Pfeiffer’s character is Ingrid, a cold and arrogant woman obsessed with beauty and perfection. He instills in his daughter Astrid not only a passion for art but also a worldview. Even after being imprisoned, Ingrid tries to instill in her daughter the idea that she is special and thus isolate her from people. When the girl finds herself in a family with a loving mother, Ingrid begins to be jealous and drives her rival to suicide, and her daughter wants to find a worse mother, next to whom she would become a strong and strong person. pampered flower. At the same time, he not only criticizes her style and drawing abilities, but also forces her to break up with a good man.

Narcissists are especially effective in romantic relationships. Generally, their partners are individuals with weak egos and dependency on each other. Although they make high demands on their partners, they get along best with invertebrate individuals in life. For example, in the series “My King” the hero of Vincent Cassel surrounds the “gray mouse” Tony with care, but each time leaves him alone at the most important moments: a wedding, the birth of a child, injuries. After that, he asks for forgiveness as if nothing had happened and surrounds himself with attention, but he cannot play the ideal man for a long time, so after a while he breaks down again and spends time in a tavern with other women.

The relationship between Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger’s characters in the horror drama 9 1/2 Weeks develops in a similar way. First he woos her nicely, giving her exactly the scarf she likes, then he goes to the park with her and closes the Ferris wheel when she gets to the top.

Narcissists are also prone to jealousy. For example, in the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley, the main villain literally kills and steals the identity of a wealthy heiress, adopting all his habits and tastes.

psychopaths

Unlike narcissists, the psychopath’s driving emotion is boredom. That’s why Jodie Comer’s character in Killing Eve commits a crime and plays a game with the detective who follows her lead. Unlike narcissists, psychopaths do not fear risk, exposure, or loss of reputation. What interests them most is power because it gives them a lot of room to maneuver. Psychopaths are not necessarily maniacs and murderers; They learn very well and with high adaptability they can become, for example, skilled surgeons.

Similarly, in the thriller “Funny Games,” two psychopathic friends come to visit their neighbors uninvited and organize survival games for them. The bad guys give them the illusion that they can escape, but on the road to salvation they repeatedly deprive them of hope, breaking their will and leaving them without hope.

Psychopaths do not have the ability to empathize, but they like to manipulate people by pretending to be in love. For example, in the film adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangerous, Viscount Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil often share their victories with each other. To get even with her enemy, the Marquise asks him for a favor: to seduce his fiancée, Cecile. But Valmont is much more interested in winning the heart of the unapproachable and virtuous Madame de Tourvel and trampling her reputation. True, soon the allies will turn intrigues against each other.