Do Narcissists Have Emotions? (Yes They Do)

It can be hard to believe that narcissists have emotions, especially when their behavior often seems so detached from empathy or compassion.

But the truth is, narcissists do experience emotions.

If you pay close attention to their actions, some of the most common emotions you’ll notice are:

• Anger
• Fear
• Shame
• Envy
• Pride
• Excitement

In this article, I will explore each of these emotions, explaining how narcissists experience and express them, and how these emotions drive their behaviors.

By understanding these emotional patterns, I hope you’re able to gain insight into how narcissists think and why they act the way they do.

1.) Anger

Narcissists feel anger like everyone else, but for them, it often takes the form of something more extreme, known as narcissistic rage.

This reaction is deeply tied to their need to protect their fragile sense of self.

Any perceived threat—whether it’s a minor criticism or someone questioning their authority—can provoke an intense rage.

To the narcissist, such moments feel like a direct attack on their worth or identity.

Their anger is not just a normal reaction to frustration.

It’s an emotional defense mechanism that shields them from the deep shame they carry.¹

When their carefully crafted image is challenged, the anger serves to push away the painful feelings of inadequacy they are desperate to avoid.

Narcissistic rage can come out in two main forms: one is cold and calculated, like giving someone the silent treatment or subtly undermining them.

The other is explosive, with yelling, insults, or even aggressive behavior. Both forms are designed to reassert their sense of control and superiority.

In the end, their rage isn’t really about the situation itself but rather about preserving the ego that constantly feels threatened.

Suggested Reading: Is Narcissistic Rage Dangerous (6 Reasons It Is)

2.) Fear

For narcissists, fear often revolves around the loss of power and control.

Control is not just a preference; it’s a survival tactic. By controlling their environment and the people in it, they protect the grand image they project to the world.²

This image is essential to them because it masks the insecurity they carry deep inside.

When they lose control—whether it’s over a situation or in a relationship—they feel exposed, vulnerable, and powerless.

This exposure brings them face-to-face with their greatest fear: that others will see them as they truly are, without the layers of grandiosity and confidence they’ve built up.

The possibility of being seen as ordinary or flawed is terrifying, as it shatters the illusion they’ve worked so hard to maintain.

This fear drives many of their actions, from manipulation to domination. They may go to great lengths to maintain control, even if it means lying, gaslighting, or bullying.

Their constant need for control is not just about feeling powerful—it’s about preventing the collapse of their fragile self-image.

Without control, they fear their weaknesses and insecurities will come to light, and that’s a reality they simply cannot face.

Suggested Reading: Who Do Narcissists Fear? (4 Types of People)

3.) Shame

Shame is one of the deepest and most painful emotions that narcissists grapple with, and it’s directly linked to the fact that their entire self-image is built on a lie.

Beneath their grandiose exterior lies a fragile sense of self that feels inherently unworthy, unlovable, inadequate, worthless, and weak.

To cope, albeit unhealthily, with these feelings, narcissists create an inflated image of themselves, projecting confidence, superiority, and specialness.

But no matter how much they pretend, this image doesn’t align with how they truly feel inside.

This constant gap between their outward persona and their internal sense of inadequacy creates a deep-rooted shame.

They may act as though they are superior to everyone else, but deep down, they fear they aren’t special at all.

Instead of confronting these painful feelings of worthlessness, they suppress and deny them. But the shame never really goes away—it lingers beneath the surface, feeding their behaviors.

To avoid facing it, narcissists often deflect blame onto others, refuse to acknowledge their faults, or inflate their achievements to feel superior.

The shame is always there, driving their need for validation and preventing them from ever feeling truly at peace with themselves.³

4.) Envy

Narcissists are often overwhelmed by envy, especially when they see others gaining something they want—whether it’s success, admiration, or status.⁴

Their sense of entitlement makes them feel like they deserve the best of everything, and when someone else has it, they see it as unfair.

To them, others’ success feels like a personal insult, as if it diminishes their own importance or worth.

Rather than being happy for others or seeing their achievements as separate from their own, narcissists feel resentful.

This envy pushes them to tear others down, criticize their successes, or exaggerate their own accomplishments to redirect attention back to themselves.

It’s not just a passing feeling; it’s a deep frustration that comes from their belief that they should always be on top.

Suggested Reading: Why Do Narcissists Get So Jealous?

5.) Pride

Pride is a central emotion for narcissists and is deeply linked to their inflated self-image.

Narcissists genuinely believe they are exceptional—far superior to others—and their pride stems from this exaggerated sense of self-worth.⁵

They take great pride not just in their achievements but in the very idea of who they are. It’s not enough for them to succeed; they need to feel that their success proves their inherent superiority.

When others admire or validate them, it strengthens their pride, feeding into their belief that they are as “great” as they claim to be.

For example, when a narcissist is praised for their work or status, it isn’t just a fleeting moment of feeling proud.

To them, it’s confirmation that they are better than everyone else around them. This need for constant external validation fuels their pride and reinforces their grandiose self-image.

However, this pride is fragile. Without validation, it can quickly turn into feelings of anger, bitterness, or insecurity.

They rely on admiration to prop up their self-esteem, and when it’s absent, their sense of superiority becomes unstable.

6.) Excitement

Narcissists often feel a specific kind of excitement when they successfully manipulate or control others, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as duper’s delight.⁶

This excitement comes from the thrill of deception—knowing they’ve outsmarted or tricked someone gives them a sense of power and superiority.

It’s not just about getting their way; it’s about proving to themselves that they can dominate and control the people around them.

An extreme example of this can be seen in interviews with serial killers, where they may initially appear serious, but as they describe how they manipulated their victims, their facial expressions shift—they might smirk or show visible excitement.

This reaction reveals the pleasure they take in their actions, the thrill of having gotten away with something others didn’t see coming.

For narcissists, this excitement isn’t just fleeting. The more they believe they’ve outsmarted someone, the more they feel a rush of superiority.

It validates their belief that they are smarter and more powerful than those they manipulate, further feeding their need for dominance.

Conclusion

Understanding the emotions narcissists experience—such as anger, fear, shame, envy, pride, and excitement—can give you valuable insight into their behavior.

By recognizing them, it is my hope that you can better navigate interactions with the narcissist in your life and protect yourself from being drawn into their manipulations.

In doing so, you empower yourself to maintain control over your own emotional well-being and move toward a healthier, more balanced future.

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