<p>Distinguishing between similes like this can be aided by a word's etymology.  The root of Narcissist is the Greek deity Narkissos, or Narcissus.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;Narcissus, in Greek mythology, the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. He was distinguished for his beauty. According to Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book III, Narcissus's mother was told by the blind seer Tiresias that he would have a long life, provided he never recognized himself. However, his rejection of the love of the nymph Echo or (in an earlier version) of the young man Ameinias drew upon him the vengeance of the gods. He fell in love with his own reflection in the waters of a spring and pined away (or killed himself); the flower that bears his name sprang up where he died.&quot; (Britannica.com).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While the word, today, is often used interchangeably with Megalomaniac; a Narcissist is originally speaking to a person who is obsessed with, or overvalues, their appearance.  Megalo (big... REAL big - think Megalodon) and mania (obsession) refers to a person's overestimation of who they are compared to everyone else - an obsession with power, influence, or control.  Megalomania is a more common combination of a root and suffix, while narcissism derives from the too-pretty-for-his-own-good Narcissus.</p>
<p>Adolf Hitler was more of a megalomaniac; while every artist who sings about how 'hot' they are is a Narcissist (or their lyrics suggest as much at least).</p>
<p>Hope this helps to some extent!</p>
<p>Britannica.com, Narcissus. (2020). Encyclopedia Britannica. Acquired 20 July, 2020 from: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Narcissus-Greek-mythology" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.britannica.com/topic/Narcissus-Greek-mythology</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T17:50:56.207Z
Now this part is more speculative, but it seems that the self-obsession moved to include all forms, not just the aesthetic identity such as Narcissus' case.  Megalomania speaks more to the parts that the origins of Narcissism exclude (power, influence, control), so discerning the difference, or even deciding the usage, between the two seems more contextual today.
Jeremy Rustin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T17:25:21.627Z
2020-07-25T16:48:12.680Z
2020-07-25T16:48:12.680Z
Jeremy Rustin
<p>The lexical approach may assist. The lexical hypothesis states that, ‘All aspects of human personality, which are or have been of importance, interest or utility, have already become recorded in the substance of language’(Cattell, 1943) and, ‘When an idea is important, people are likely to have a word for it … the more important something is, … the more words there are likely to be’(Miller, 1996). The atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour uses a lexical approach to visualise words using the axes of affiliation and dominance (Mobbs, 2020).</p>
<p>Synonyms are:</p>
<p><strong>narcisism</strong>: conceit*, egocentricity, egocentrism, egoism*, egomania, egotism, narcism, navel-gazing, pride, self-absorption, self-centeredness, self-concern, self-interest, self-involvement, self-preoccupation, self-regard, selfishness, selfness, solipsism, vanity.</p>
<p><strong>megalomania</strong>: conceit*, conceitedness, egotism*, grandioseness, grandiosity, obsessionalism, paranoia, self-importance.</p>
<p>The visualisation according to the atlas approach is shown below:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JHqdu.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JHqdu.png" alt="Megalomania and narcissism visualised according to the atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour (Mobbs, 2020)" /></a></p>
<p>In answer to your question, there appears to be very little difference between megalomania and narcissism from a lexical perspective.</p>
<p><strong>References</strong></p>
<p>Cattell RB. The description of personality: basic traits resolved into clusters. J Abnorm Soc Psychol. 1943; 38: 476–506. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054116" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054116</a></p>
<p>Miller GA. The science of words. New York: Scientific American Library; 1996.</p>
<p>Mobbs AED (2020) An atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour. PLoS ONE 15(1): e0227877. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227877" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227877</a></p>
<p><strong>Declared interest</strong>: I am the author of the atlas paper.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-26T02:24:41.887Z
2020-07-26T02:24:41.887Z
Tony Mobbs
<p><a href="https://www.pep-web.org/document.php?id=se.014.0067a" rel="nofollow noreferrer">narcissism</a> is introspective - i.e. an obsession of self/physical appearance. While internalized <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167208320061?casa_token=v0-RdeKSdf0AAAAA:IvBH_T5cjMPTg6uniwemQ23Pk0wVGS3KQfC2axBab5EevNHzSqQVM9u3v4L5hLJwd0tzTiP4_3Di" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the disorder personality often seeks out admiration &amp; external merits</a> (eg. Social Media) to affirm the belief.</p>
<p>in context a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00332747.1955.11023003?journalCode=upsy20" rel="nofollow noreferrer">megalomanic</a> look at ones self as extrinsic from the world: Yet the delusion that they either have the power/ability to influence the rest of the world or the rest of the world is &quot;out to get them&quot; remains absent of influence from external elements.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T19:47:42.333Z
2020-07-20T19:47:42.333Z
Cypit
<p>Narcissism is an exaggerated sense of self love while megalomania is an exaggerated sense of self worth based on fantasies of power, attractiveness and other physical or psychological attributes and, therfore, all megalomaniacs are narcissists, but not all narcissists are megalomaniacs.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-29T05:29:14.580Z
Hi Jerome, welcome at CogSci and thank you for your answer. We do expect answers to include (scientific) references such that one's claims can be verified. Could you include some to back up your answer? Otherwise, your post would be more suitable as a comment.
Robin Kramer-ten Have
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-29T17:21:07.687Z
Agreed: a quick reference to the source of this information would make this a worthy answer!
mflo-ByeSE
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-29T00:47:34.120Z
2017-06-29T00:47:34.120Z
Jerome Mathieu
<p>The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) doesn't distinguish between megalomania and narcissism. The most recent edition of the DSM (DSM-5) classifies both as a form of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder">narcissistic personality disorder</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-05T01:15:40.773Z
2015-01-05T01:15:40.773Z
Josh
<p>As far as I can tell, both megalomania and narcissism are found in [delusions of] grandiosity. Perhaps megalomania has more focus on power, rather than just being well liked?</p>

<p>What is the primary difference between the two?</p>

<p>Are all megalomaniacs narcissists? Or all narcissists megalomaniacs? Or are they completely separate?</p>

<abnormal-psychology>
What is the difference between Megalomania and Narcissism?
galois
# What is the difference between Megalomania and Narcissism?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-04)

As far as I can tell, both megalomania and narcissism are found in [delusions of] grandiosity. Perhaps megalomania has more focus on power, rather than just being well liked?

What is the primary difference between the two?

Are all megalomaniacs narcissists? Or all narcissists megalomaniacs? Or are they completely separate?

**Tags:** abnormal-psychology


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## 5 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2015-01-05. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) doesn't distinguish between megalomania and narcissism. The most recent edition of the DSM (DSM-5) classifies both as a form of [narcissistic personality disorder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder).


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### Answer by username_1 on 2020-07-20. Score: 4

Distinguishing between similes like this can be aided by a word's etymology. The root of Narcissist is the Greek deity Narkissos, or Narcissus.

> "Narcissus, in Greek mythology, the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. He was distinguished for his beauty. According to Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book III, Narcissus's mother was told by the blind seer Tiresias that he would have a long life, provided he never recognized himself. However, his rejection of the love of the nymph Echo or (in an earlier version) of the young man Ameinias drew upon him the vengeance of the gods. He fell in love with his own reflection in the waters of a spring and pined away (or killed himself); the flower that bears his name sprang up where he died." (Britannica.com).

While the word, today, is often used interchangeably with Megalomaniac; a Narcissist is originally speaking to a person who is obsessed with, or overvalues, their appearance. Megalo (big... REAL big - think Megalodon) and mania (obsession) refers to a person's overestimation of who they are compared to everyone else - an obsession with power, influence, or control. Megalomania is a more common combination of a root and suffix, while narcissism derives from the too-pretty-for-his-own-good Narcissus.

Adolf Hitler was more of a megalomaniac; while every artist who sings about how 'hot' they are is a Narcissist (or their lyrics suggest as much at least).

Hope this helps to some extent!

Britannica.com, Narcissus. (2020). Encyclopedia Britannica. Acquired 20 July, 2020 from: <https://www.britannica.com/topic/Narcissus-Greek-mythology>

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Now this part is more speculative, but it seems that the self-obsession moved to include all forms, not just the aesthetic identity such as Narcissus' case.  Megalomania speaks more to the parts that the origins of Narcissism exclude (power, influence, control), so discerning the difference, or even deciding the usage, between the two seems more contextual today.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-07-26. Score: 4

The lexical approach may assist. The lexical hypothesis states that, ‘All aspects of human personality, which are or have been of importance, interest or utility, have already become recorded in the substance of language’(Cattell, 1943) and, ‘When an idea is important, people are likely to have a word for it … the more important something is, … the more words there are likely to be’(Miller, 1996). The atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour uses a lexical approach to visualise words using the axes of affiliation and dominance (Mobbs, 2020).

Synonyms are:

**narcisism**: conceit\*, egocentricity, egocentrism, egoism\*, egomania, egotism, narcism, navel-gazing, pride, self-absorption, self-centeredness, self-concern, self-interest, self-involvement, self-preoccupation, self-regard, selfishness, selfness, solipsism, vanity.

**megalomania**: conceit\*, conceitedness, egotism\*, grandioseness, grandiosity, obsessionalism, paranoia, self-importance.

The visualisation according to the atlas approach is shown below:

[![Megalomania and narcissism visualised according to the atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour (Mobbs, 2020)](https://i.sstatic.net/JHqdu.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/JHqdu.png)

In answer to your question, there appears to be very little difference between megalomania and narcissism from a lexical perspective.

**References**

Cattell RB. The description of personality: basic traits resolved into clusters. J Abnorm Soc Psychol. 1943; 38: 476–506. <https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054116>

Miller GA. The science of words. New York: Scientific American Library; 1996.

Mobbs AED (2020) An atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour. PLoS ONE 15(1): e0227877. <https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227877>

**Declared interest**: I am the author of the atlas paper.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-07-20. Score: 1

[narcissism](https://www.pep-web.org/document.php?id=se.014.0067a) is introspective - i.e. an obsession of self/physical appearance. While internalized [the disorder personality often seeks out admiration & external merits](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167208320061?casa_token=v0-RdeKSdf0AAAAA:IvBH_T5cjMPTg6uniwemQ23Pk0wVGS3KQfC2axBab5EevNHzSqQVM9u3v4L5hLJwd0tzTiP4_3Di) (eg. Social Media) to affirm the belief.

in context a [megalomanic](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00332747.1955.11023003?journalCode=upsy20) look at ones self as extrinsic from the world: Yet the delusion that they either have the power/ability to influence the rest of the world or the rest of the world is "out to get them" remains absent of influence from external elements.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-06-29. Score: -1

Narcissism is an exaggerated sense of self love while megalomania is an exaggerated sense of self worth based on fantasies of power, attractiveness and other physical or psychological attributes and, therfore, all megalomaniacs are narcissists, but not all narcissists are megalomaniacs.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Hi Jerome, welcome at CogSci and thank you for your answer. We do expect answers to include (scientific) references such that one's claims can be verified. Could you include some to back up your answer? Otherwise, your post would be more suitable as a comment.  
> **username_6**: Agreed: a quick reference to the source of this information would make this a worthy answer!  

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