Mögliche Brücke zwischen Narzissmus und Zwangsstörung: Das Streben nach Perfektion könnte die Brücke sein, die Narzissmus mit Zwangssymptomen verbindet. Für Menschen mit narzisstischen Zügen ist die Unfähigkeit, ihre eigenen hohen Ansprüche zu erfüllen, ein Hauptgrund für aufdringliche Gedanken und zwanghaftes Verhalten.

Psychologists identify a **potential bridge between narcissism and OCD**

New psychological research suggests that **the drive for perfection may be the dangerous bridge connecting narcissism to obsessive-compulsive symptoms**. A study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences identifies how the gap between an individual’s expectations and their actual achievements can trigger mental distress. The findings indicate that for **people with narcissistic traits, the inability to meet their own lofty standards is a primary driver of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.**

The study found that grandiose narcissism was weakly associated with obsessive symptoms. However, the mediation analysis revealed a hidden pathway. Grandiose narcissism was linked to the “discrepancy” factor of perfectionism. This sense of discrepancy then led to obsessions. The data suggests that for grandiose narcissists, the trouble begins when reality does not match their inflated self-view.

When a grandiose individual feels a gap between their entitlement and their actual life, they experience distress. This distress manifests as obsessive thoughts. The researchers found that the discrepancy factor explained most of the relationship between grandiose narcissism and obsessions. The direct link between the personality trait and the symptom was not statistically significant once perfectionism was taken into account. This means the perfectionism is the necessary vehicle for the symptoms to emerge.

The results for vulnerable narcissism were more extensive. Vulnerable narcissism showed a stronger connection to overall distress. These individuals were more likely to experience both obsessions and compulsions. The statistical models showed that maladaptive perfectionism played a central role here as well.

Vulnerable narcissists tend to view the world as threatening. They are highly sensitive to criticism. The study showed they experience high levels of discrepancy. They feel they are constantly falling short. This feeling of failure was strongly linked to the development of obsessive thoughts. It was also linked to compulsive behaviors.

The researchers suggest that vulnerable narcissists may use compulsions as a coping mechanism. They may engage in rituals to manage the anxiety caused by their perceived imperfections. The mediation effect was very strong. The discrepancy factor accounted for approximately 63 percent of the link to obsessions. It accounted for roughly 76 percent of the link to compulsions.

The authors interpret these findings through the lens of self-regulation. Narcissistic individuals rely on external validation to maintain their self-esteem. They create an idealized image of themselves. When they cannot maintain this image, they experience a crisis.

For the grandiose narcissist, this crisis leads to ruminative, obsessive thinking. They may obsess over why they are not being recognized as superior. For the vulnerable narcissist, the crisis is more acute. They feel shame and fear. They may develop compulsive rituals to try to restore a sense of control or safety.

For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886925004490

I realize there is a difference between findings from a study and individual observation, but isn’t this link between OCD and NPD something psychologists would have recognized intuitively even 100 years ago?

I have OCD and frankly this tracks.

there’s a certain narcissism behind thinking you are going to be patient zero for a new pandemic or have some other thing happen that has never happened to anyone else.

there’s a level of „I can’t believe that everyone else is living just as complicated and vulnerable lives as I am and that im not actually special“

OCD is based in physiology. This is psuedoscience and if anything will influence people to judge people they know with OCD as potentially narcissistic

Great. As a person with OCD that constantly worries if I accidentally negatively affected someone in any way and if I’m a bad person, this is a fun new thing to analyze about myself.

Vulnerable narcissists develop obsessive-compulsive tendencies when their grandiose “true” reality is a world apart from “everyday” reality.

The ones who can somehow harness the ocd tendencies into their natural talents are the visionary geniuses and the mad.

I live with someone like this right now. He obsessively moves every damn thing in the house to a “better” spot. Day in and out things get moved, Including my stuff. Also, is a textbook narcissist so this tracks.