Which personality disorder is characterized by a strong need for admiration and a lack of empathy?

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a strong need for admiration, and a lack of empathy toward others. Individuals with NPD often have an inflated sense of self-importance, exaggerate their achievements, and seek excessive attention and admiration from those around them. This need for validation and recognition is central to their behavioral patterns.

Moreover, their lack of empathy means they often struggle to recognize or care about the feelings and needs of others, which can lead to difficulties in interpersonal relationships. People with this disorder may also be preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, or beauty, reinforcing their grandiose self-image.

In contrast, Histrionic Personality Disorder involves excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior but is marked more by a strong need for approval rather than the grandiosity seen in NPD. Avoidant Personality Disorder is characterized by feelings of inadequacy and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, while Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder focuses on a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control over one's environment rather than a desire for admiration. Thus, the defining traits of admiration-seeking and empathy deficits distinctly align with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.