Can a Narcissist Change? Understanding The Possibility

Do you have a partner, family member, or friend who is always self-involved, arrogant, and lacks empathy? Are you struggling with their abusive and manipulative behavior? Well, there are many people with excessive narcissistic traits and even some might have a Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Their extreme narcissistic behavior can damage their self-esteem, relationships with others, and emotional health. Hence, you might be looking for, "Can a narcissist change?" The simple answer is Yes, narcissists can change when they are willing to put effort, dedication, and intention on their own. So, if you are trapped by some narcissist, there is hope. How?

Read the article to understand narcissism, and get your answer to your questions: do narcissists change, how long it takes for them to change, and what helps them to change? Let's start!

Can a Narcissist Change?

The simple answer is Yes, narcissists can change. However, it requires tremendous effort, dedication, and willingness from their side. Narcissism happens when individuals think they have more importance and are better than others in a certain manner. They want admiration and when it does not come, it becomes challenging for them to accept any of their flaws or imperfections, even if this is problematic for their well-being. Many people with narcissistic traits also respond angrily sometimes when someone doubts their abilities or compares them with others. All these factors can be a major obstacle to the change. Most importantly, the possible extent of change also depends on whether a person has narcissistic traits alone or is living with NPD.

Signs That Shows a Narcissist's Willing to Change

The following are the signs that show narcissistic people are willing to change:

recognize their mistakes and feel guilty without becoming angry or manipulating you.
calmly listen to your feedback without defending themselves.
become less reactive and control their emotions instead of seeking attention by crying, shouting, etc.
genuinely apologize for their bad or negative behavior.
pay attention to your opinions and try constantly to change yourself.

How Long Does it Take for a Narcissist to Change?

Studies say that personality disorders such as Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), in general, decrease with age. As per one clinical trial, around 53% of the individuals living with NPD show a decline in signs and symptoms of this disorder after 2 years. This indicates that narcissistic traits can change after some time. However, this doesn't mean narcissists will get better suddenly or will become much easier and safer to have a relationship with. So, it is important to keep in mind that people who do not meet NDP treatment criteria properly can still become prone to narcissism and engage in narcissistic behavior.

Can a Narcissist Change With Therapy?

Yes, therapy can help narcissists change by improving their narcissist and NPD symptoms. Therapeutic programs that focus on how to rewire your brain from addiction are essential for helping individuals change deep-rooted patterns, offering a pathway to healthier relationships and self-perception. The therapies can assist in developing healthy living patterns and creating great relationships with loved ones. However, though they are effective treatment options, an individual must be ready to change or put in some effort. If someone you know is not willing to receive the treatment, consider whether maintaining a relationship with them is an ideal decision. If they have a willingness to change their behavior, seek guidance from mental health specialists.

Narcissistic Traits Vs. NPD

Sometimes people with narcissistic traits might also struggle with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). NPD is marked as a mental health disorder where a person needs constant attention and admiration, lacks empathy for others, and has extreme arrogance. So, if any of your loved ones are struggling with narcissism, you need to understand the narcissistic traits and NPD. The former is more common and does not surely point to the presence of NPD. The following table lists the difference between narcissistic traits and NPD:

Narcissistic Traits	Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) Traits
Occasional self-importance or self-obsessed behavior but still can have some empathy for others.	A constant pattern of self-importance, lack of empathy, and need for admiration.
Usually, it causes no severe damage or disruption in everyday functioning.	Causes extreme distress in professional, personal, and social life.
Behaviors emerge based on situations that are not always noticeable.	Traits are continuous across different situations that can be seen or felt everywhere.
A person might change narcissistic traits through personal development and self-awareness.	People might find change challenging and need permanent therapy.
Not necessarily associated with other preexisting mental health conditions.	Linked with some mental health problems like anxiety or depression.

Whether it is narcissistic traits or Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), recognizing the difference between both terms is the initial step toward change. Therefore, it is important to approach these characteristics with great compassion to learn and transform the narcissist behavior.

Can NPD Be Cured?

No cure is available for NPD. It is crucial to mention that NPD is not really a disease, it is typically a type of personality disorder. For illnesses, a cure means preventing it completely. For instance, antibiotics can help treat bacterial infections. However, when it comes to NPD, the behavior and thought patterns associated with this disorder are deeply fixed. These patterns actually form a huge part of the identity of an individual which can't be eliminated easily.

But, it does not mean there is not any hope for improvement. If a person sincerely wants to make an effort, many therapeutic strategies can help them learn healthy approaches to interacting with others and respecting and valuing people around them. In addition, they can develop a great sense of confidence.

Therapeutic Techniques for a Person Living With NPD

Several therapeutic strategies can help treat NPD, depending on the symptoms and health needs of a person. They may include:

1. Mentalization-based therapy:

In this therapy, therapists focus on setting a firm self-image and helping others understand the perspectives of others. Maintaining a self-image helps people with NPD prevent anxiety and insecurity. In addition, understanding the perspectives of others can increase an individual's empathy for others.

2. Trauma-Focused Therapy:

During this process, therapists use the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) technique. It helps the NPD people process any childhood or past trauma that is affecting their daily functioning and well-being. Childhood traumatic events can contribute to the development of narcissistic traits in a person. When those events are managed and healed, narcissists can change their current habits.

3. Skills Development and Behavioral Work:

In this approach, dialectical behavior therapy is used to treat narcissists. This helps enhance interpersonal skills, build responsibility, and teach meditation and mindfulness practices. Moreover, it aids in improving their ability to control their emotions and lower their isolation levels.

4. Intensive Wraparound Care:

Here the members of the care team aid in the treatment of several aspects of NPD. In this holistic approach, the team brings all the people living with NPD together. They then provide the required support and make sure all the needs are met to get effective treatment.

Will NPD Go Away on Its Own?

No, NPD can't resolve on its own. Experts find that the traits of this condition go away with age. Though people with NPD will likely show high scores on the narcissist trait scale, they can have remission (a temporary recovery from a condition). One finding reveals that 53% of NPD patients indicate remission after 2 years. However, the remission does not occur suddenly, it takes over two years. In addition, they show huge traits of narcissism, but the traits are not sufficient for proper diagnosis. Moreover, there is no guarantee that it will happen to each person living with NPD.

Final Takeaway

We learn that narcissists can change only if they show dedication and some effort. To address the question, can a narcissist change, it’s essential to recognize that people with narcissistic traits and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) can benefit from effective support treatment. Moreover, you can also help them by encouraging them to keep going and increase the chance of successful change, helping them build empathy for others, acknowledging behavioral changes whether they are big or not, etc. So, if any of your friends, family members, or partners genuinely want to improve their selfish behavior, support them. Help them go for therapeutic strategies to get rid of such negative behavior.