You’ve probably seen the word “narcissist” thrown around online in headlines, on dating apps or in therapy-themed TikToks. But the label hides a complicated psychological picture. Psychologists have studied narcissism for many years, and over time, understanding has evolved. Today, narcissism is no longer seen as just grandiosity, arrogance or egotism.

Narcissism is now understood as a set of personality characteristics that can show up in different ways. Psychologists had long suspected that there might be different kinds of narcissism, but this wasn’t formally recognised until research presented in 1991.