What type of sadist is a malignant narcissist?
Malignant narcissism isn’t an officially recognized term (I’ve been told it is in the DSM-V after all). The same goes for sadistic personality disorder is no longer recognized in the DSM. There is a general understanding though as to what malignant narcissism would be defined as among some professionals. It is not by any means universally recognized.
Malignant narcissists are pathologically grandiose and have egosyntonic aggression. They lack conscience and have a psychological need for power. They cannot take criticism as it triggers off their paranoia. In Kremberg’s hierarchy the only thing that trumped malignant narcissism was psychopathy as a more severe form of narcissism.
The thing that distinguishes malignant narcissism from regular narcissism is the comorbidity making the disorder a broader range of symptoms than the pathology. Where a regular narcissist will damage other people for self-interests, they may regret or show remorse for doing so.
Malignant narcissists have a more pervasive lack of empathy due to the ASPD characteristics. They will lack feelings of guilt and remorse for the damage they cause and because of the sadism they actually derive pleasure from hurting others.
Well, if we were going off of the idea of Malignant narcissism being combination of Narcissist with traits of sadistic personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, as well as antisocial personality disorder then sadism can be broken down into a few different kinds.
Spinless sadism which is an avoidant style. Insecure, cowardly, cruelty, and weakness
Tyrannical sadism which has negativistic features. They relish in the menacing and brutalizing of others, forcing them to cower and submit verbally cutting and scathing, accusatory and destructive, abusive inhumane and unmerciful.
Enforcing sadism which includes compulsive features - hostility in the public interests, cops, bossy supervisors, deans, judges, they possess the fight to be pitiless, merciless, course, and barbarous with the task of control and punishment.
Explosive sadism which includes borderline features - unpredictable outbursts of fury, uncontrollable rage and fearsome attacks, feelings of humiliation are pent up and discharged.
There is nothing saying that a malignant narcissist wouldn’t have elements from any one of these categories or even all of them at various times.