It is almost unheard of for one individual to have all nine traits on the narcissistic scale but those who do have the potential to be extremely dangerous individuals, with those around them being at the most risk from what is termed narcissistic rage.
The appearance of narcissistic traits within those who kill has been on the table for a long time. Ted Bundy for example, who became one of America’s most notorious serial killers was what you could call a classic narcissist. This was a man who once caught and being assessed by a psychological profiler from the FBI, offered to go to the FBI Behavioural Science Unit and teach investigators about his crimes and motives, an offer which the FBI refused. According to Robert Ressler, a profiler who assessed some of the worst serial killers in American history, Ted Bundy was a ‘master of his game’.
Narcissists, by their very nature, don’t take responsibility for their actions or events around them. They do not admit they have any faults or could be at fault because they genuinely don’t believe that they are. They would not call themselves a narcissist and they certainly wouldn’t believe that they had a personality disorder. Cult leaders are typical examples of pathological narcissists. They believe they are special and powerful and they show the level of control and dominance such beliefs can achieve.
The case of Brian Blackwell
Brian Blackwell was one such individual whose behavior and actions defied the belief of many. Brian was 18 years old and appeared to be the nice boy next door, but this teenager had all nine traits possible; he was volatile, unpredictable, and dangerous.
In July 2004, Brian Blackwell killed his parents in Liverpool and then went on holiday with his girlfriend and his parent’s credit cards. Upon return to England, he maintained the story that his parents were away until a horrified neighbor discovered the truth, weeks after the crime. Brian denied any knowledge of the murders and was adamant police were wrong that he was involved.
The mounting evidence against him told police otherwise and he was charged with double murder. After being psychologically tested he was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder showing all nine traits on the scale. Brian had created a false self with reality intertwined with fantasy.
He had enticed his girlfriend by claiming to be an international tennis player, promising her money, gifts, and holidays and gave her a ‘job’ as his personal secretary.
The 9 Traits of A Narcissist
Grandiosity
A preoccupation with success and power
A feeling of being unique
A requirement of excess admiration
Sense of entitlement
Exploitative
Lack of empathy
Being envious
Being arrogant and domineering
Needing to show some evidence of his wealth he used his father’s credit card to pay for flights to America and on being confronted by his furious father, Brian Blackwell snapped and exploded in rage. It was a vicious attack on both his parents.
Narcissistic Rage
Heinz Kohut was an American psychoanalyst who focused on psychoanalytic theory. In his book, ‘Thoughts on Narcissism and Narcissistic Rage’ he coins the term ‘narcissistic rage’, highlighting the risk of violent rage from narcissists if they are challenged or perceive rejection.
Brian Blackwell’s murderous actions were attributed to a narcissistic rage after being confronted and questioned by his father, reducing his charge to manslaughter. Narcissistic personality disorder was used for the first time in the United Kingdom in his defense and provided mitigation to his crime.
The UK has seen other cases of teenagers who kill their parents, and children who kill other children, but this is the first time narcissistic personality disorder, and specifically, narcissistic rage has been the focus in such cases. Brian Blackwell was sentenced in June 2005 to life imprisonment and it is unlikely he will ever be released.
Mass Murders and Narcissism
There have been a number of high-profile mass shootings in recent history. The Port Arthur Massacre in Australia in 1996, The Columbine High School shootings in 1999, the Norway attacks in 2011 by Anders Behring Breivik, and the Colorado movie theatre shootings in Aurora in 2012.
In an article focusing on mass shootings and a possible link of narcissistic rage between different cases, Dr. Winston Chung, a psychiatrist with Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, discusses the work of Kohut in light of the various mass shootings which have taken place in America. Comparing such cases brings up some interesting points where narcissistic behaviors and a lack of empathy can clearly be seen.
A common theme among such tragic incidents can be the notion that such actions will bring them fame and glory and they deserve this attention. Grandiosity, uniqueness, and lack of empathy are all traits that feature within the narcissist. Furthermore, the idea of revenge against those they feel have done them wrong also appears to be a trend in mass shootings.
In cases such as Elliot Rodger aged 22, who carried out a shooting near the University of California in July 2014, and Seung-Hui Cho aged 23, in the Virginia Tech shooting in April 2007 for example, both talked of revenge on those who had not included them or noticed them.
In their daily lives, narcissists behave in a manner that is expected of them rather than truly feeling and expressing emotions. They are immune to feelings of empathy and do not relate to others. Narcissists, you could say, operate more automatically and mechanically than most. The difficulty is, as they see nothing wrong with their personalities and behaviors they are not going to reach out to the medical profession for support or admit they have a problem.
Treatment of narcissistic personality disorder is thought to be possible, however, the traits that make up this condition are a fundamental part of the individual’s sense of self. These traits and resulting behaviors are what make them who they are and who they believe themselves to be.
While there are many in this world who could be said to have narcissistic personalities to some degree, there are only a few true narcissists. This is a personality that while can be highly beneficial to the individual, can be highly dangerous and damaging to those around them.
- BBC News (2005, June 29) Killer Blackwell’s Fantasy Life.
- Chung. W. (2014, June 10) Killers in Mass Shooting Linked By Narcissistic Rage. SFGate.
- Kleinfield. N.R. (2007, April 22) Before Deadly Rage, a Life Consumed by a Troubling Silence. New York Times.
- Liverpool Echo (2013, May 8) The Day I Killed Mum and Dad.
- Navarro. J. (2017, Sept 01) Inside the Mind of a Narcissist. Spycatcher Blog. Psychology Today.
- Ronningstam. E. (2011) Narcissistic Personality Disorder in DSM-V – In Support of Retaining a Significant Diagnosis. Journal of Personality Disorders. 25(2). pp248-259
- Woolf, N. (2015, Feb 20) Chilling Report Details How Elliot Rodger Executed Murderous Rampage. The Guardian.
Guy, F. (2015, Jul 21) When Narcissistic Rage Ends In Murder. Crime Traveller. Retrieved from https://5bx.1fb.myftpupload.com/2015/07/narcissistic-rage-cold-blooded-murder/
- The Everything Guide To Narcissistic Personality Disorder – A comprehensive resource including identifying symptoms, different types of narcissists, living in and recovering from a narcissistic relationship with a parent or spouse.
- Narcissists Exposed – Answering every question about narcissists, revealing the inside secrets to the frustrating and crazy-making games narcissists play and reveals the ins and outs of how (and why) they do what they do.
In the paragraph “After being psychologically tested he was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder showing all nine traits on the scale.” What are the nine traits on the scale?
Hi Jocelyn, the nine traits on the narcissistic scale are;
1) grandiosity
2) a preoccupation with success and power
3) a feeling of being unique
4) a requirement of excess admiration
5) sense of entitlement
6) exploitative
7) lack of empathy
8) being envious
9) being arrogant and domineering
I have another article on narcissism and why it can be dangerous, which includes an infographic on the nine traits on the scale and more detailed information on each one. Here is the link – https://5bx.1fb.myftpupload.com/2015/07/traits-narcissist-dangerous/.
Malignant narcissist are not rare just unreported. They hide well under their masks, undetected except by those they abuse and torture unmercifully and relentlessly. The victims are starting to speak up and I promise you rare is NOT the case. Victims tend to stay silent in an effort to protect themselves from the narcissists rage and smear campaigns. Also, very little support when they do try to tell someone as it is not yet a topic most people are even remotely familiar with. Even licensed psychiatrist tend to dismiss victims and do not properly address this disorder. The narcissist sure never admits it or goes in for help. THE NUMBERS ARE MASSIVELY UNREPORTED. It is getting worse and worse.
Hi Nicole, thanks for your comments. It is a horrible thought that there are so many more victims of narcissists out there with no support or even people to take their experiences and abuse seriously if and when they do speak out. I would be interested to see what if any research has been carried out into this in terms of gaining a more accurate understanding of the extent of violence and abuse at the hands of those who rate highly on the narcissistic scale.
No support is an understatement…..when the local law and court system support the narcissist its unbearable….we live in fear that we are the ones who are going to be arrested.Any suggestions?
Totally agree. I make network for psychopath survivors. Narcissist survivors are the most common: Their ex partners or chiefs or parents are emotionally cold, manipulative, dominant and possessive. Cutting the tie to these people ends almost always up in stalking – often the rest of the narcissist’s life. Narcissists are often involved in high conflict divorces, which is actually same mechanism which can lead to murder: The victim has left the narcissist, and in order to regain control, the narcissist decides to bereave the victim of everyting: Children, house, job… and finally life, IF the narcissist can find a way to get away with it. That’s why so many Danish mothers escape out of Denmark after a divorce: Narcissists are common (between 1-10% of the population), but they are so controlled that only those close to them discover the narcissism.
I WAS arrested -for trying to protect my child against visitation. He has stalked me for 8 years, and the police is still not stopping him. This is happening in Denmark
You are so correct. So many people don’t completely understand this disorder. Raising awareness is imperative. I recently researched NPD in depth and found it perfectly matches my husband’s family…NPD father (only child with a self-centered dad) with 3 sons…three divorces and a three women who described their lives as “hell”. The pieces of the puzzle, so misdiagnosed by medical and psych professionals I questioned over the years, are coming together finally. As the victim (not enabler) of serious abuse…alienation, betrayal on many levels, serious manipulation, false blame / guilt, demanding apologies for these false accusations, gaslighting (lying about things that can’t be proven in order to make the victim doubt their sanity…takes many forms), on and on…for so long…the stress was / is immense…along with the long-term physical stress from major anxiety…and I hung on because I knew that to divorce would be worse because my husband would have more reason to place blame and alienate me from our children…and the divorce rate is higher for kids from divorced families and I did not want that for them. After 22 years of marriage we are now seeing a counselor with 30 years experience and he told me (in a solo session) that I waited too long and was possibly and enabler. …Really? Therapists are not suppose to be judgmental…especially on the second appointment! I was not an enabler. I was a victim of psychological abuse while trying to be an obedient Christian wife. I was a stabilizer and an ameliorator for my family and children as much as I could possibly be under the circumstances. Now that I know more about it…and am talking to more people and educating them…it is certainly not rare at all. And, in today’s “ME” society it is definitely getting worse. Get fully informed about NPD so you can be ready to help those with the problem and those being seriously adversely affected by it.
Yes, you are right. This has also been my experience. Ppl have NO idea, but hopefully the word can be spread & now with the President we have, people will start to truly understand.
I was always after my older sister to get her attention from childhood, but instead, she would reject me ignore me and try to manipulate my feelings and my parent’s feelings. Now at 47, I realize that she has the narcissist behavioral disorder, and that makes me feel relieved that I realize that she’ll never regret or behave the way she should. As a matter of fact, she comes closer to our parents only when there is money to get, otherwise she forgets them, and never takes responsibility for her duties towards our ill parents. I just want to get away from her because she always makes me unhappy. By the way, nothing is obvious in the presence of other people; she comes across as a very happy, delightful person with no problems whatsoever.
I am currently married to a narcissist. I want to leave, but I am trapped for so many reasons. I’m too exhausted to try to explain everything to friends or family. I barely talk to anyone anymore. The more I learn the more I realize I need to get away, but at the same time, the more I learn, the more I’m afraid to leave.
I think there are a lot of murders that happen at the hands of a narcissist, and no one ever puts two and two together. I watch a lot of the true homicide stories on the Investigation Discovery channel and there are so many times I will watch a story and I see the parallels of the murderer and my husband. They may never mention NPD, but to me, it’s obvious what was going on. I know it won’t bring anyone back, but maybe more could be done to bring awareness to the victims of a narcissist, so they can learn how to put themselves in a safer place. I’m trying to figure out how to journey to my safe place. Right now, I’m just existing by staying neutral and obedient.
I know nobody will see this because the article is old. but I’m going to type a response in the hopes that somebody else will feel supported. The narcissist I am married to (and finally divorcing after 25 years) I feel intends to kill me. He already tried to take my life and I didn’t discover this fact until years later–he had hit me and years later I learned that the hit was a martial arts type blow with an intent to stop a persons heart. At the time that he struck me, I only knew it hurt…I didn’t know what he intended. Just thought he was hitting me. Nobody believes me. His mask is placed with precision. Some things have transpired during the divorce thus far that are not in his favor and he has expressed rage. This puts me in danger. I am not safe and nobody believes me. I am nervous. I am tired. The more I try to explain, the crazier it makes me appear because the circumstances of all I silently endured are just jaw dropping. I met him in public after the divorce process started to discuss my daughters college bills and settlement. I decided to park away from the door…in the middle of the large lot as there were many spaces next to the door and around the perimeter. If the meeting went badly, I was just going to hurry to my car and leave. We met at TGI fridays to have this difficult discussion, it was public and it was safe…or so I thought. After the tense but civil meeting, although there was a HUGE parking lot, to my horror he parked his truck right next to my car. He walked over to his truck and said he wanted to show me something. I didn’t want to even look. it was the middle of the day, but it was 3 pm so there were no others actively walking through…lunch time had passed. He showed me a gun. he didn’t point it at me or verbally threaten me but he did pick it up and I felt afraid for my life. Its a legal gun so since there was no verbal threat, he technically did nothing illegal. But in that moment I was afraid I was going to die and I believe it was an unspoken message. We are not actively friends, we dont spend time together so why show me a gun? I still think I am going to die…..I constantly check my surroundings and walk around nervous. I guess when I am gone somebody will believe me. He once threatened a decade ago to kill me and my children but nobody believed me back then–said they don’t believe he would harm his own children. I am just “exaggerating” he says and they believe him because I am hysterical and he is calm as a cucumber . Good luck to those of you who are also in danger. I hope I survive and I hope you get out of your situation.
Hi Mimi, I am really sorry you are having such difficulties. Thank you for taking the time to share your story to help others. Narcissists do have that unique ability to maintain their mask in front of everyone, leaving those they are targeting isolated and struggling to have their voice heard and believed. I do hope you have some support around you and that your situation improves very soon.
After my mother’s death. I married a man in prison 29 yrs. ago. I was depressed and on medication. He had a murder charge, kidnapping and escape. He assaulted me twice in which one was a threat on my life. He went to jail and got him out again. Now we are in a divorce and he is winning. Recently, our counselor informed me that he a narcissist. Everything now makes sense to me. I went to the police and they did make it a matter of record that he tried to kill me. I was so sick and walking with a cane. It’s been a nightmare. I made more money and had an education that got us wealth. I am now disabled but getting better since the separation. However, he filed the divorce before I could get a lawyer. After two years, he came back wanting to get back together. No way! I had to file bankruptcy to try to start my life over. In February, I am launching a nation organization to help women of the abused including narcissist survivors for God saving my life. I have totally exposed him as a narcissist through my court documents I had to file before I could afford an attorney. I was trying to get an annulment but the judge would not listen. He is constantly harassing me, stalking and threatening me. He sold my guns too and at this time the police say it’s a civil matter. I will be relocating out of my native state and getting a complete name change.
Hi Alice, I am sorry for the difficulties you are going through with your ex-husband. It sounds an incredibly hard situation to have to deal with. I do hope you are able to relocate and restart your life as you deserve to be able to do. Your launch of an organization to help women in these types of situations is wonderful and I wish you the very best of luck with it.
Thank you so much for writing this article Mr. Guy. Society is really going to have to address this social issue. When I was in college, they did not go into specific about narcissists. What threw people off about my husband is that he only killed one person that is really known. However, what was missed was not understanding his mindset and he often talked about killing many people but got caught. The Mass Murder in your article got my attention. Thanks again for informing the public.
My husband recently died after 58 yrs of marriage.He had one affair after another.I never kn ew.He used me.He had sex with our teenage daughter for yrs and he cried when he said it stopped because she didn’t want to do it anymore when she was older.He was into sex,porn and lying. He had se veral long term affairs even when I was pregnant, He said it was my fault because he stopped loving me it was my job to make him stay in love with me and I didn’t do my job.I had no idea.He was having sex with hookers in his car at lunch time at his work.He had a long time affair with a co worker he said he was madly in love with but he went to orgies with her and her husband.Her husband seem to disappear.I don’t know their las t name I wonder it all.My head is spinning.She was a slut we went to her wedding and she ws flirting with my husband not hers. I wonder if my husban d did something to hers she was very upset telling me she broke his heart when she told him sh edidn’t love him anymore.I only recently found out all this. I wasn’t familar with Narc’s before this.I am getting therapy but I wasted most of my life with this nut. He was disabled the last 22 yrs and I have cared for him all by myself. I am lost.
Hi MaryAnn, I am so sorry to hear everything you have been through. I wish you the very best for your therapy and recovery.
How can you even say narcissistic rage is a defense against murder? Reducing someone’s sentence… Has this world gone mad? If there is no medication or treatment of this “disorder” then those guilty should face the maximum sentence.
Hi Adam, it’s most curious isn’t it? As far as I know, the Brian Blackwell case was the first to use narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic rage as a defense. I’m curious to know if it’s been used again and how often is it used, and more importantly, how often it’s successful? I think you make a good point on no medication and no treatment. If narcissistic rage is part of a personality disorder that can’t be treated as such, where does that leave this concept in a court of law as a defense? Thanks for your comments, very thought-provoking!
My 30 year old son was living with a narcissist. He was only in a relationship with her for approx 4 months. She controlled my son in every way possible , she gaslite him until his own memories and realities were no longer his own.
She isolated him from his family, yes they visited me often but he was unable to talk to us about what was happening and she was always with him denying my son the privacy he needed with his family. He had to have his phone on loud speaker so she could control the phone call. she had access to all my sons log in details. she read all of his text messages. My son was outside of his own reality. she spent all the money leaving him with nothing. she drowned him in debt. she stalked him. She ridiculed him she threatened him with destroying him. She set him up to suicide. turns out my son had life insurance and was worth a great deal in his death. she engaged a lawyer the day after my sons passing and is fighting me through the courts for his estate. Yes this girl is very charming and you would never guess for a moment that she is a true monster. My poor son did not stand a chance with her. she rendered him to believing he was a worthless and a burden on his family . She came between me and my son causing him to feel as though i did not care about him. she was constantly on the look out for the smallest flaw and turn it into something much greater. poisoning his mind. She is a true evil monster. The Justice system in Australia has no legislation in place for my family to seek justice for my son. Myself and my sons 4 brothers are now her victims for the rest of our lives.
Hi Alison, thank you for telling your story and I’m so sorry your family has had to go through this and for the tragic loss of your son. I truly hope your court battle for his estate is resolved soon. Take care.
There are far more narcissists than statistics suggest. I worked for a narcissistic boss in a small hospital. I was a young college graduate with much creativity and ability, but she was afraid I would be as good as she was.She did not want my ability to eclipse hers. I did all the work, but she assembled a flock of narcissistic flying monkeys to watch me. Everything I did outside her purview was reported to her. She was stealthy. She insulted me in front of visitors to the office. She criticized me to visitors. They would look inquiringly at me, and I would grimace. I knew I could not say anything to refute it for fear of invoking her wrath. I was underpaid–per her recommendation–and I suffered with her narcissism for 17 years. It did not help me that my narcissistic family just ignored my travails.
Narcissists are extremely dangerous!
I was raised by a mother with malignant covert narcissism who subtly abused me and my two brothers. She did her best to undermine, weaken, and subjugate her own children. She was an identity thief who ascribed to herself whatever she saw as desirable qualities in others.
My current long term partner is a covert narcissist who now works at the local church cafe. She has told me, in bouts of narcissistic rage, that she will kill me.
The first time she told me she would stab me to death while I was sleeping .
Yesterday , in another sudden and unexpected episode of screaming and shouting, she announced her intention to kill me.
I have lived with her for about twenty years.
I will inform my local police about these threats, just in case I do suddenly die from poisoning or something else.
As a person with a background in psychology and mental health, I am still shocked and utterly appalled by the reality of this monstrous personality disorder.
Life is sacred, and these people with Npd, and often overlapping with other personality disorders, play God with the lives of those nearest to them.
There is no therapy for them because they cannot admit to any fault. Part of their disorder is the belief in their own specialness/dominance/entitlement etc.
The most dangerous time is when the predators victim becomes aware and attempts to separate or leave the relationship.
That is when the utmost support and planning is required for a safe escape.
There are many narcissistic people around.
In my road there are many women whose men have died and left their wealth to these covert monsters.
Yet on the surface they wear their masks of normality with accomplishment and skill.
Beware.