Are You Dating a Narcissist?

ABOUT THIS QUIZ

Being absorbed with your own appearance, displaying a lack of empathy, and a penchant for promiscuity are all hallmarks of narcissism. But when you're in love with someone, it can be tricky to identify these — and other less known — characteristics. Plus, many narcissists come across as charming and charismatic, with sometimes little indication that there is another personality hiding underneath their masks. Take this quiz to find out if the person you're dating is a narcissist — and what to do about it...

The term narcissism originates from Greek mythology. According to the historian Ovid, a young man named Narcissus fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water. Unable to consummate his love, the Greek youth stayed by his reflection, gazing hour after hour. In some versions of the story, he didn't leave that spot until he died of starvation. He was literally consumed by his own vanity. The concept of excessive selfishness has been recognized throughout history. However, it's only more recently that narcissism has been defined in psychological terms. Sigmund Freud popularized the term in his psychoanalytic theory, which was first introduced in his essay "On Narcissism" in 1914. The American Psychiatric Association has listed narcissistic personality disorder in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders since 1968.