The answer to this question depends on whom you ask. If you ask the narcissist himself, he will tell you he is very intelligent.
If you ask either the average person or an expert on intelligence, the same fellow may not be considered intelligent at all. However, that is not to say the narcissist is stupid.
Much to the contrary. Let’s take a detailed look.
What would make the average person think the narcissist is intelligent?
Think about this for a moment. It takes a certain degree of intelligence to make other people believe the narcissist has smarts.
There is quite a bit of conniving that goes on in his life. They possess the capacity to convince other humans of their self-worth and their own smarts.
There is also a bit of acting that goes on
The narcissist should have been a star in Hollywood. That is because he acts well enough to convince potential mates he is a true gentleman.
For the unsuspecting individual that gets caught up in his lies, this man deserves an Oscar for his performance. He has won a mate!
Is the narcissist stupid?
In this case, narcissists are like any other group of people. Some are stupid, some are smart, and the majority of them fall somewhere in between.
It does take a certain amount of intelligence to know how to manipulate people and get them to do what you want.
These people can be a handful to teachers while in school, especially during the high school years. Why? Narcissistic behaviors usually begin at that age level.
This includes the feeling that they are superior to others when it comes to intelligence.
Therefore, they think they know more about any given subject than the teachers. This can lead to significant problems in the classroom.
Narcissists are great at projecting
What do we mean by this statement? Most of the time he or she has an over-inflated sense of their own intelligence. Deep down he knows he truly is not very smart.
So, he projects these feelings onto other people. This can try the patience of any other folks he comes in contact with.
What kinds of issues arise from this behavior?
According to the narcissist, it is everyone else that is stupid. He is the smart one. Therefore, anything they say is probably wrong. He won’t hesitate to point that out.
This can lead to arguments, even in public. If you are dating this guy, uncomfortable situations can come about frequently.
He may put you down a lot in front of other people and insult your intelligence. This is NOT good!
Are there any narcissists that are geniuses?
That depends on a person’s definition of the term genius. It would be better to say that some narcissists are very intelligent. They go to school like anybody else.
College can even be in the cards for them. They usually graduate, at least from high school. If all narcissists were stupid, those things would not happen.
However, to say they are a genius is a stretch of the imagination.
How can another person tell when the narcissist is only acting intelligently?
Even though he seems to exude intelligence, after a while the things he says do not make sense.
If a person were to take that a step further and fact-check this guy, they will find out the truth.
There are probably some celebrity-type individuals that come to mind after reading this paragraph. Sooner or later the truth does come out about the narcissist.
Are any narcissists successful in business?
Yes, in fact, a vast number of them own their own businesses. Others work for someone else. Either way, they are highly successful.
This is another reason to make the point that most narcissists are not stupid. If they were, how could they be successful at work?
There are scores of stereotypes about people in general. This is particularly true when speaking of narcissists.
Even though an average person might not want to marry one, when it comes to a business relationship with them, that person can get by just fine.
What is emotional intelligence in a narcissist?
It is defined as having the mental smarts to read what people are thinking and feeling. They do this by observing their facial expressions and/or body language.
In a sense, this is done on an emotional level. Hence, you get the term emotional intelligence.
A narcissist will typically have the intelligence to take those observations and turn them into a strategy for himself. This allows him to plan his course of action.
Then he acts accordingly. What do you think? Is this really the method of operation for a stupid fellow?
Why is it that some intelligent people fall in love with a narcissist?
Initially, he or she can be very intriguing. They may be physically attractive as well. During the initial courtship process, the narcissist can seem charming.
The personality traits usually associated with this person are not so pronounced in the beginning. Thus, a relationship tends to begin.
What happens after that?
After becoming a couple, the traits of the narcissist start to come out in earnest. He no longer feels the need to disguise himself.
Now, instead of the partner being in rapture with him, they think it is slightly annoying.
The longer this relationship goes on, the more harmful the narcissistic traits become. Now his true personality comes out.
This is when the partner should realize there is a definite problem. The wiser solution to it is to break off the relationship. Things will only get worse.
Expanding on the emotional intelligence topic
The narcissist usually forges lasting allies with his capability to read other people. He or she has a huge amount of confidence in their own abilities.
Do you want to know more? Keep reading this article.
What are the facts regarding narcissists and intelligence?
There was a study done and published by personality and mental health professionals. It was very enlightening as far as this topic goes.
The results indicated that the average narcissist has an inflated view of his own emotional intelligence.
The irony here is that the general public would never guess this.
What would it take for a narcissist to prove he really is intelligent?
That is easier than one might think. First, he has to make sure he has all his facts straight. Particularly in this era of those folks we now know as fact-checkers.
As long as the fact-checkers cannot prove the narcissist is wrong, those doubters will be proven to be false.
The other thing is he should quit lying. This type of person is well-known for the lies he tells.
Because of this, the individuals he encounters won’t be able to tell when he is factually correct. Then they will never know he is intelligent.
What is a sound piece of advice regarding narcissists?
The best bet is to avoid narcissists altogether. This can be done with the exception of the workplace. There it is difficult to avoid them.
What you can do then is remember NOT to start any conversations with them. You will constantly end up frustrated and angry.
Do not let yourself be drawn into their initial appeal. Whenever possible, stay far away from them.
