Why Grandiose Narcissists Think You're an Idiot

"Grandiose narcissists insult others as way of boosting their own self-esteem."

""engage in more social comparison, feel more envy, are more extraverted, more likely to pursue status, and have higher reported self-esteem.""

""You're an idiot!" "You're the stupidest employee here!" "You're the worst lover I've ever known." Grandiose narcissists are driven to insult others on a regular basis to help themselves feel better about themselves by social comparison. An insult often serves more than one purpose. They often do it for attention seeking, another one of a grandiose narcissist's characteristics. Their insults certainly get your attention and often the attention of others within hearing or who read what they have written. When the target of their insults does not respond or looks upset by the insult, then a narcissist may believe that their bystander audience will see them as more powerful, clever, and successful. Sometimes this works, but more often it makes them look odd or incredibly insensitive."

Narcissism includes two subtypes: grandiose and vulnerable. Grandiose narcissists engage in more social comparison, feel more envy, are more extraverted, pursue status, and report higher self-esteem. Vulnerable narcissists are more introverted, avoidant, and have lower self-esteem. Grandiose narcissists commonly insult others to elevate themselves through social comparison and to gain attention. Insults aimed at absent individuals or groups often aim to curry favor with present listeners but frequently backfire. Effective responses include avoiding retaliatory insults, leaving the interaction, or redirecting the conversation to useful information.

Read at Psychology Today