If you’ve ever been in a relationship with a narcissistic person, then you probably know by now that they have a reputation for being serial cheaters.
They tend to live life on their own terms without any sense of guilt whatsoever, making them more prone to cheating behavior in romantic relationships. They often come across as borderline evil because they lack empathy towards others.
But when it comes to love and relationships, we can’t help but wonder, can a narcissist be faithful? You’re about to find out.
In this article, we’re going to talk about people with narcissist personality disorder, their behavior patterns, and whether they can commit to a serious relationship at all.
Let’s dive in.
Can a Narcissist Be Faithful?
Most narcissists, but not all of them, are unfaithful to their partners.
Cheating and betrayal are often part of the patterns narcissists tend to have in all of their relationships. But not all narcissists are the same.
Depending on the level of their disorder, some of them can end up in happy relationships, but these types of folks are rare. To help you out, I decided to share some key insights on whether narcissists can be faithful. Continue reading to learn about 21 key insights.
Related post: The Root Cause Of Narcissism: 7 Important Influence Factors
1. Narcissists are most faithful to themselves
People with narcissistic personality disorder are often unfaithful to their partners. Because they’re so self-centered, they find it hard to fully commit to a serious relationship. The only person they’re loyal and faithful to is themselves.
2. They will be faithful as long as they’re your top priority
On some (rare) occasions, people with narcissistic tendencies can be faithful to you, but you need to make them your top priority. If you’re completely focused on your narcissistic partner, and you put their needs over your own (which is, of course, not good for your well-being), they are less likely to get involved in cheating behavior.
3. They look for partners who will put them on a pedestal
The secret to a happy relationship with a narcissistic partner? They should always be in charge. They want you to surrender to them completely and disregard your own needs. This is not a sign you’re in a healthy relationship, and you should stay away from people with narcissistic personality disorder.
4. They’re faithful to those who they can exploit
Partners with narcissistic personality disorders are likely to exploit their significant others. They might try to be loyal to you if they can get something out of it. But this is not sustainable nor healthy.
5. Narcissists need constant validation
Narcissists demand loyalty; that’s a fact. They need constant validation from you. Otherwise, they are likely to get involved in unfaithful behavior. Their romantic relationships are never one-way streets; they seek constant admiration from their partner and almost never give it in return.
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6. They crave admiration
Narcissistic people want excessive admiration. They crave attention from their partners, and when they don’t get it, they start to be abusive. They might look for attention elsewhere or get involved in casual sex to fulfill their emotional void.
7. Narcissists will do anything to satisfy their narcissistic need
When narcissists cheat, they often do it to satisfy their narcissistic needs. Whether it’s because they’re not getting enough attention from you or they just have poor impulse control, they will go above and beyond to receive constant attention.
8. Narcissists don’t know what true love is
Why do narcissists cheat, you might wonder? Well, there are many reasons behind their cheating behavior.
But one of the most important things to remember when dealing with a narcissistic partner is that they virtually don’t know what true love is.
Many narcissists are not able to have romantic partners. Some of them don’t even want to fall in love, as simple as that. They want to be on their own and living life on their own terms.
9. If you accuse them of cheating, they will gaslight their way back to you
Narcissists tend to gaslight their partners. This form of manipulation lets them control you and make you do whatever they want. So if you accuse a narcissist of cheating, they will rarely, if ever admit it. As a matter of fact, they will immediately accuse you of cheating with such ease that you won’t know how to talk to them.
Related post: 13 EXPERT Tips – How To Talk To A Narcissist
10. Most narcissists are cheaters
Most people with narcissistic personality disorders have a tendency to cheat on their partners. That’s just the way they are. They find it extremely difficult to be in a faithful relationship, so they prefer to mess around with multiple people at once. They don’t like to catch feelings and are often incapable of loving anyone but themselves.
11. They are typically dishonest and manipulative
Manipulative behavior, dishonesty, and gaslighting are some of the warning signs you’re dealing with a narcissist. It’s common knowledge that narcissistic people tend to lie to and deceive their partners. So if you catch your narcissistic partner with other woman, don’t expect them to take ownership of their mistakes. They’re more likely to lie to you and try to manipulate their way out of that uncomfortable situation.
12. They will accuse you of cheating
When a narcissist feels threatened or attacked, they attack back. So if you accuse them of cheating, they will probably accuse you back somehow and make a big deal about it. This is a form of emotional abuse and can have severe consequences on your mental health.
13. They will make you feel guilty
If you’re constantly feeling guilty in your relationship, it probably means you’re dealing with a partner who has a narcissistic personality disorder. They will make you question reality, hurt feelings whenever they can, and make you feel guilty for everything.
Related: How Do Narcissists Feel When You Move On? 21 Key Insights
14. Some narcissists are not cheaters
Can a narcissist be faithful? Sure, some of them can be. But they are very rare. When a narcissist is loyal, it often means they have some hidden agenda; for instance, they maybe get enough narcissistic supply from you.
15. Low self-esteem is at the core of their narcissistic disorder
When trying to understand narcissistic personality disorder, you need to know that low self-esteem and poor self-image are at the core of it. Narcissistic people are empty on the inside; they are insecure and obsessed with how others perceive them. That’s why they will do anything to look better than they truly are, even cheat and deceive.
16. They demand faithfulness from their partners
Even though narcissists are not faithful, they demand faithfulness from their partners. This is because they think the world revolves around them. They are also very suspicious and expect only the worst in people.
17. They will cheat when they run out of supply
When they run out of supply, narcissistic people will cheat on their partners. That’s just how they are built. Everything revolves around them, so if they need attention, they will get it one way or the other.
18. They have a lack of empathy
A lack of empathy is one of the biggest red flags in every relationship. If you’re dealing with a narcissistic partner, you might notice that they don’t care about anyone other than themselves. This lack of empathy isn’t always so easy to detect. Some of the signs are victim-blaming, gaslighting, lack of patience for other people’s emotional needs, being extremely critical, etc.
19. It’s very hard to detect when a narcissist is unfaithful
One of the most important things to know when dealing with a narcissist is that they are very hard to read. They will appear perfect at the beginning because they are often very charming. It’s extremely difficult to detect when a narcissist is cheating on you, so be extra careful.
20. Narcissists won’t hesitate to upgrade their partner
While most people won’t jump from partner to partner that easily, narcissists won’t give it a second thought. They will not hesitate to upgrade their partner to fulfill their narcissistic demand.
21. That’s just their narcissistic nature
Trying to understand why narcissists cheat won’t get you anywhere. It’s just their narcissistic nature.
Can a Narcissist Truly Love Their Partner?
If you’re in a relationship with a narcissistic person, you might wonder whether they’re even capable of love. Can a narcissist truly love their partner?
Unfortunately, most narcissists are not capable of truly loving their partners. They’re so self-centered and undeveloped emotionally that they can’t love another person. Narcissists are unlikely to be in successful and loving relationships, but they can be with their partners for months or sometimes even years.
They can develop positive feelings toward another person, but these feelings get easily clouded when their true nature starts to come out. Because narcissists have a lack of empathy, they can’t really love another person. They’re constantly focused on their ego and self-esteem that they don’t have the capacity to be emotionally involved with someone.
Are Narcissists More Likely to Cheat?
Narcissists have a reputation for being cheaters. Because of their narcissistic tendencies, they are more likely to be disloyal and cheat on their partners. According to new research, narcissistic people also have a greater tendency toward infidelity.
To put it simply, narcissistic people always put their own needs and wants above anything else. They prioritize their happiness over other people.
So if they’re tempted to cheat on their partner, they’re likely to do it for one simple reason – they believe their needs being met is the most important thing. Add the lack of empathy to that mix, and you’ve got yourself a narcissistic cheater.
Will a Narcissist Ever Be Happy in a Relationship?
Believe it or not, most people with narcissistic personality disorder end up in what appears to be a happy marriage. But things are not always what they seem on the outside.
Even though narcissistic people appear to be in a successful relationship from an outsider’s perspective, that doesn’t mean they’re truly happy. And that certainly doesn’t mean their partner is happy.
A happy relationship is made of love, respect, and intimacy. But when you’re with someone with narcissistic tendencies, you probably won’t receive any equal treatment. Their needs will always be above yours.
What Happens When a Narcissist Cheats?
When a narcissist cheats, they do it to fulfill their demand. They’re either not getting what they want from their romantic partner, or they crave more admiration. If they’re caught cheating, they won’t admit it. Quite the opposite; they will lie their way out of the situation. They might even attack you back and project infidelity onto you.
They will lie even more to convince you they’ve been faithful. They will probably deny everything they’ve been accused of. As you can imagine, confronting a narcissistic partner is not easy. They’re very manipulative by nature. They are experts in gaslighting and will say anything to turn the focus away from their mistakes.
Related post: 11 Best Ways To Emotionally Detach From A Narcissist
Narcissist Cheating Patterns
Narcissists tend to cheat more regularly than other people, but not every narcissistic person is the same. Not all of them cheat. And if they do cheat, every narcissist cheats in their own way.
They have different partners. So what cheating patterns are there? Here are some of the most common narcissist cheating patterns:
- The need for superiority – Narcissists think they are better than everyone else, so they deserve better things. A narcissist tends to cheat because of this need for superiority;
- Low narcissistic supply – Narcissistic people are longing for admiration. They will do just about anything to satisfy this need, and that includes cheating on their partners;
- Poor self-control – Narcissists are not so good with self-control, mostly because they don’t care. So if a narcissistic person feels the urge to cheat, they will probably do it with no guilt;
- An overinflated ego – Narcissistic people have a high opinion of themselves which is why they turn on the charm when the opposite sex is around;
- Constant power game – They are very controlling and want to be in charge. They adore playing power games with members of the opposite sex as a way to control them;
Can a Narcissist Be a Good Person
Because of their deep need to control and rule over others, it’s very hard for a person with a narcissistic personality disorder to be a good person.
If we think about the concept of kindness and being good to other people, we can all agree that it means to be mindful of other people’s needs, not just your own needs. But that’s almost impossible for a narcissist to do.
They’re very self-centered and focused on their own narcissistic supply. They can’t look beyond themselves to see that other people have their own needs too.
If you have a narcissistic person in your life, I understand that it’s very hard for you to deal with them. I suggest you talk to a professional who will guide you in your approach and help you take care of yourself.
Can a Narcissist Fall in Love Permanently
The concept of true love is almost nonexistent in the world of a narcissist. They’re rarely capable of loving someone else.
They are, however, capable of being in serious relationships, getting married, and spending a lifetime with someone else. But that usually means they’ve accepted the positive feelings toward that person, but they’re probably not ready to work on their disorder.
Can a Female Narcissist Be Faithful
Just like for a male narcissist, it’s equally challenging for a female narcissist to be faithful in a relationship. Not every person is the same, though, so you will probably meet different types of narcissists in your life. They all have their own relationship patterns. They all have different needs. But they all have in common the narcissistic need to be superior.
A female narcissist will be as controlling and self-centered as a male narcissist. She will not be able to look beyond her own narcissistic needs in a romantic relationship. Although often strong, confident, and self-assured on the outside, a female narcissist is actually often very insecure on the inside. Her charm is actually her mask.
Average Length Relationship Narcissism
Wondering how long a relationship with a narcissist typically lasts? Well, the average length of their relationship is around six months to a couple of years.
However, you need to keep in mind that they don’t just break up with their partners. They tend to bring their targets into the same cycle over and over again until all their needs are met. They initiate the cycle again, teaching their partner to expect them to come back. If you need help breaking this cycle, I suggest you seek professional help or talk to your family and friends about it.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for taking the time to read my article. I hope you found this article helpful and that it helped you understand narcissistic personality disorder a little better.
As you can see, it’s very hard for a narcissistic person to be faithful in relationships. They’re only loyal when it’s convenient for them. Because of their self-centered nature, they find it hard to control their urges, causing them to cheat on their partners more often than others.
That said, being in a relationship with a narcissistic person can be extremely difficult and emotionally draining. It’s always recommended to seek professional help in these types of relationships and prioritize your own mental health.
If you have any additional questions about this topic or you need my advice, I’m here to help!
Don’t hesitate to reach out or leave a comment in the section below. Let me know your thoughts, and I hope I hear from you soon!
