Self-love is an important attribute to have when it comes to being confident and happy about yourself. Dare I say that a little bit of narcissism is also acceptable? But that’s the thing, a little bit of narcissism is fine, not a lot of it. And if you have ever come across a cerebral narcissist, you know exactly what I mean by this statement.
There are many types of narcissists in this world, and one of them is the cerebral narcissist. The thing is, some narcissists can also be analytical, moody, introverted, and loves to read books, instead of always being self-absorbed, obsessed with their looks, and being a social climber.
So, what is a cerebral narcissist? Rather who is a cerebral narcissist and how do they function?
Related: 8 Signs You Are Being Abused By A Somatic Narcissist
What Is A Cerebral Narcissist?
Cerebral narcissists are those individuals who fulfill their narcissistic supply by showing off their intellect and smartness, every chance they get. What makes them toxic and horrible people is the fact they put down other people if they think that they are not as smart as them.
They are extremely arrogant and egoistic about their intelligence and will not spare any opportunity to make you feel bad about yourself. Cerebral narcissists also display some typical traits of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), such as a sense of entitlement, absence of empathy, insensitivity, and grandiosity.
But why are they like this? What are the causes of cerebral narcissistic personality disorder? Listed below are a few potential causes:
- Parenting – If someone has been raised by an overprotective parent or a parent who always neglected them, tend to display narcissistic tendencies when they grow up. Also, if someone has been overly pampered and is a spoilt brat, they can also grow up to be a cerebral narcissist.
- Genetics – Chances are if someone’s parent/parents are narcissists, they will also grow up to be one. Narcissism genes can be passed down from parent to child.
- Neurobiology – Neurobiology can be defined as the science that focuses on the relationship between brain behavior and thinking, and an individual’s narcissistic tendencies can be a potential result of their neurobiological makeup.
Now, in order to understand cerebral narcissism better, you need to know the signs that give them away. Read on to know more.
7 Signs You Are Dealing With A Cerebral Narcissist
1. They always want to be the center of attention wherever they go.
Narcissists and a desperate need for attention always go hand in hand, and there’s nothing they won’t do to stay in the limelight. They have this constant need for attention, and without it, they feel like they are going crazy. If in any public or social event, they are not in the limelight, it enrages them.
They will try everything possible to make sure that the attention is on them all the time, be it by monopolizing conversations, or indulging in attention-seeking behaviors. Cerebral narcissists also tend to treat people who they consider to be ‘not that smart’ with a lot of contempt and insensitivity.
Related: 22 Stages of Relationship Between An Empath and A Narcissist
2. They are extremely egoistic and self-absorbed.
Now, this shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, because if you are dealing with a cerebral narcissist, a massive ego comes with the territory. And this massive ego of theirs is a result of their intelligence. It’s true that they are extremely intelligent human beings, but does that mean they have the right to be toxic individuals? Of course, not!
For them, they are the only ones who are intelligent and smart enough to exist in society, and anybody who is even slightly less intelligent than them doesn’t deserve any respect and acknowledgment from them. And worse still, you can’t even disagree with them because of their problematic thinking.
3. They are the epitome of pretentiousness.
One of the major cerebral narcissist symptoms is their ability to be overly pretentious, and this is due to their inherent snobbery, elitism, and pride. They love to brag about the schools and colleges they have gone to, the kind of books they read, and most importantly, their intellectual superiority over everyone else.
They tend to judge people who might not be as smart as them, or even if they are, choose not to show off. Additionally, they will judge other sorts of things such as if you have trouble pronouncing certain words, or mispronouncing them, and if you get your facts wrong about something well-known. They will not let go of any opportunity to put you down.
4. They don’t even understand the concept of empathy.
Every narcissist out there lacks empathy, including cerebral narcissists. Kindness, empathy, and compassion are virtues they don’t understand, or even if they do, they don’t feel the need to cultivate them. Why? Because according to them, it’s unnecessary.
They think that because they are so smart and intelligent, they don’t have to be decent human beings; their intellect makes up for everything they lack. These kinds of people are never considerate or sensitive about other people’s needs, and they could care less about how they hurt and insult others.
Related: The Anatomy of Narcissism
5. They have an immense superiority complex and a sense of entitlement.
Cerebral narcissists are bound to be entitled and consider themselves superior to everybody else. They know they are intelligent and they know that they are more intelligent than most people, and this is license enough for them to consider themselves the best amongst all.
They use their sense of entitlement to insult and humiliate people just because they can. Using their superiority complex to make others feel bad about themselves, and it really doesn’t bother them that they might be hurting others. And not just this, because they are so entitled, they expect everything to just fall into their lap, and people to always do what they want them to do.
Nobody is allowed to question them or their actions. Nobody has the right to say ‘NO’ to them. Nobody has the right to be smarter than them, or better than them. It is simply always about them.
6. They are never interested in sex.
One of the most interesting cerebral narcissist traits is that they are never really interested in sex, or any sort of physical intimacy, even with their spouses or partners. They don’t care about sex because for them it’s unnecessary and unimportant; intelligence matters to them the most over everything.
On top of that, they can’t even imagine having sex with someone who is not as smart as they are, rather for them, that’s the worst-case scenario. Even associating with people they consider to be of low intelligence is humiliating and offensive for them. Instead of sex, they would rather engage in masturbation to satisfy their urges.
Related: The Difference Between Narcissism And Confidence
7. They crave authority all the time.
One of the most defining cerebral narcissist signs is that they are addicted to power and authority and if they don’t get it, they feel like they are a nobody. Being authoritative and being in powerful positions is what makes them feel good about themselves. Their main motive is to rule over people and tell them what to do and what not to do.
Moreover, they always try their best to ensure that people who they consider less intelligent than them, are always beneath them so that ruling over them and dictating them is easier.
So, now that you know the signs and symptoms of cerebral narcissist, have you ever encountered one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below!
Want to know more about cerebral narcissists? Check this video out below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who are some famous cerebral narcissists?
Some famous cerebral narcissists are Tom Cruise, Albert Einstein, Elon Musk, Margaret Thatcher, Kanye West, etc.
Do cerebral narcissists cheat?
Even though there’s always a chance, cerebral narcissists are less likely to cheat on their partners compared to other kinds of narcissists. This is because they don’t see sex as important, and nor do they have very strong sexual urges.
What is the difference between cerebral and somatic narcissists?
Cerebral narcissists gain their self-importance from their minds and intellect, whereas somatic narcissists aim to gain self-importance through their well-maintained physical bodies.
Can narcissists be both cerebral and somatic?
Truth be told, all narcissists have both cerebral and somatic tendencies. It’s just that one aspect is more dominant than the other.
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