The Mid-Range Narcissist
Meet Malcolm the Mid-Range Narcissist. Say hello Malcolm.
“Hello.”
Ever obliging is Malcolm, part of his charm. He doesn’t have the ubermensch mentality of the Greater and nor is he governed by the almost rash instinctive behaviour of the Lesser. Malcolm is not so much defined by what he is, but by what he is not.
“Isn’t that right Malcolm?”
“Isn’t what right my dear?”
“You are a Mid-Range Narcissist.”
Malcolm laughs. It is an affable laugh. He knows that a veneer of self-effacement is effective to get what he wants. He is not prone to the wild outlandish boasts of the Lesser (based on what he thinks he is and therefore says as such as a matter of immediate response) or the Greater (who actually has the achievements and accomplishments to back up those boasts, but boasts about them the Greater always must).
“Hey, what can I say, I like to look good and you know, you have to love yourself before you can love anybody else, that’s what I always say.”
You see, Malcolm thinks that is what a narcissist is. Somebody who loves themselves. He lacks the higher function to know what it really means and lacks the cunning to know it himself but to deny it to those who would seek to topple him. He has some understanding so the comment does not present as a criticism to him, but since he has a moderate degree of function, he knows enough to use it to maintain his façade of being a decent, likeable and reliable fellow.
“You are a likeable chap, I must say.”
“Why thank you and may I say how lovely you look today.”
“That’s most kind, mind you, you are not the first person to compliment me on my appearance.”
Let’s see how he responds to that little piece of provocation. Did you see it? There was a flash of the inner fury but he kept it under control. Watch again. You see the sudden frown and the narrowing of the eyes as his jealousy started to climb inside of him as he felt the injury from this criticism. My comment suggested that someone else might be interested in me, that I am not just Malcolm’s. Of course, it was just a well-meant and polite compliment, but like all of their kind, Malcolm views the world from a position of suspicion and wariness. Wariness is an apt description for Malcolm. He doesn’t erupt in the way Lee the Lesser might have done if I had made the same remark. Lee would have responded with insulting questions to my comment. The Greater would show no sign of concern but file the remark away to be used at the appropriate time, when the moment is exactly right. Anyway, let’s get back to Malcolm. There is that flash of fury but he has enough control to keep it held back. For now. He won’t let it go though, he cannot.
“Oh really, who said that?”
He asks in a tone of relative disinterest but he is dying to know. He wants to know because he feels uncomfortable at this revelation. He does not know precisely why, although he knows he has to be wary about someone interfering with his partner because after all, he wants to maintain his façade of family man with the dedicated wife and so forth. Steady Malcolm who knows he is not amongst the elite of the world, but he is also far from the underclass too. He has abilities and people should recognise that. Okay, he is not the best, but he is still good, very good actually.
“Oh you know the attendant at the petrol station, he chats to me every time I am in there, he probably fancies me.”
There it is again. The brief look of consternation. The fury is rising but he is managing to keep a grip on it, but he won’t be able to do so for long. He does not want to erupt, he knows that will not do, that is not how he behaves, but he knows he needs to do something to counter this threat. He does not like the fact that I am accepting compliments from this interloper, I should only receive them from him.
“Yes well, I was told by Lucy at the florists that I look ten years younger than my real age.”
There we are. He is switching to an alternative fuel source. His level of function allows him to rely on a past event and still draw fuel from it. The Lesser would not be able to do that. Firstly, his fury would have erupted already and secondly even if it had not, he would struggle to bring up the previous compliment. His mind does not work that way. Malcolm can though and this is his way of switching the spotlight back on to him. He is also looking to get a reaction from me as well to provide him with some fuel. Let’s pretend I haven’t heard him.
“Yes the guy at the garage, Luke he is called, strapping lad, so pleasant. He always tells me that my hair is looking nice or that I smell gorgeous. He fair makes my day.”
“Yes well he can’t be too bright though can he if he is working in a garage.”
Malcolm doesn’t say it as a question but it’s a statement. He is losing control; the fury is coming. His comment had a dual purpose. You see, his mid-range function provides him with some weaponry in that regard. He wanted to cut down my comment in order to provoke a reaction from me but also by stating that Luke is not very bright he is undermining the compliments that Luke has sent my way. He’s a little bit clever with it you see.
“Oh, he just works there in between his studies. He is going to be an architect, he wants to show me some of his designs, I think I might do that.”
Let’s push it a little more. You can see Malcolm’s face is now set in a frown. He doesn’t like it at all that I am not giving him any fuel and moreover by fawning over Luke I am implicitly criticising Malcolm, at least in his mind that is the case.
Malcolm won’t respond in an outwardly aggressive manner. It’s there if he is really pushed, if he feels cornered in some way or has a frantic need for fuel then the fury will erupt as heated fury and he will lash out. He can only keep the fury under control for a short while. The Lesser can barely do so. The Greater can and will or will not, dependent on how the Greater has calculated whether the unleashing of the fury will provide him with the greatest return at that instant. Malcolm is caught between the two. He can exert some control but not enough to really deliver and savage aggression is rarer with him. Watch now and see how his ignited fury manifests.
Do you see? He has snatched up his ‘phone and rings one of his secondary sources. He knows he does not like this feeling of being ignored and he knows that to deal with it he needs attention from somewhere else. He does not know it as fuel of course, only that when this happens, if I, his primary source, is letting him down, he has to either up his game with me and/or draw attention from somewhere else.
“Hi Janice, just wondering if you were still on for lunch today?”
There’s no arranged lunch but he knows that Janice likes him, he makes sure that this remains the case and she is usually available. Notice the sideways glance to ensure I have heard him. There are not the bold assertive moves of the Lesser (through instinct) or the Greater (through calculation) but the wary steps that are the hallmark of the Mid-Range Narcissist.
Janice is cooing down the ‘phone and he feels better already but he also wants a reaction from me.
“Who are you calling?” I ask in a loud voice.
“Yes I thought so too Janice, thanks for saying that, I appreciate that.” He is ignoring me. I repeat the question but there is no response as he continues to talk into the ‘phone and lap up the fuel from Janice whilst enjoying my irked expression. This is a silent treatment from him as he refuses to acknowledge me. The Mid-Range uses the silent treatment more than any other cadre of narcissist because the Mid-Range is a creature who is passive-aggressive. The Lesser uses them, of course he does, but they tend to be short-lived. The Lesser will storm out of the house and disappear to a friend or a bar for an afternoon. The Greater will organise the silent treatment and apply it for maximum effect, it will not be a knee jerk reaction. The Greater will apply them for a long time as well but does not use them as often as the Mid-Range. The silent treatment is the main method of manipulation for the Mid-Range Narcissist. This is because it allows him to exert control, it can be used whilst preserving the façade (there won’t be a sudden eruption and storming away with slammed doors and cries of “You’ll never see me again”) but rather he will quietly depart for a period of time, or more likely use the present silent treatment. The Mid-Range is a sulker. He has enough control to sit and say nothing to you and drink up the fuel as you keep badgering him. He can sit and sulk for hours, days if need be. He can breeze around the house as if you aren’t there. Yes, Malcolm the Mid-Range Narcissist revels in the effect of his silent treatments and his dual approach here is providing dividends for him.
I walk over to him and stand in front of him, hands on hips. He sees the gesture and this fuels him further but to the him it is as if I am not there. He just looks through me. Again this is some of the discipline that I afforded by him by virtue of being Mid-Range.
He ends the call and walks off ignoring my comments as they drift fuel-filled through the air to him. He won’t shout back (he rarely does) he knows it is more effective to sulk and also then the neighbours won’t hear so he remains seen as pleasant, good neighbour Malcolm. He will probably head next door and hide there with Margaret for a couple of hours. He is good at cultivating a wide range of fuel sources. The Lesser keeps his circles tighter, lacking the discipline to operate too many fuel lines. The Greater of course has hundreds of fuel lines because he can draw them in through his outlandish greatness, his achievements and golden accomplishments. The Mid-Range doesn’t shine as bright but he has charm and ability which he uses to develop many different fuel sources and he can always rely on them. He does not have a high turn-over, keeping many of them in the golden period for years. The Mid-Range is most likely to have long-standing friends going years back. The Lesser and Greater may have as well, but not in the same number of the length of time as the Mid-Range.
So, Malcolm will be away giving me the silent treatment as he draws fuel from Margaret and then Janice. He knows how his silent treatment affects me and that is why he also uses it so often. Oh well, that’s my day spoiled already and he knows it. I suppose I had better go and fill up the car with fuel. I know a good garage and a sympathetic ear to hear my woes.
43 thoughts on “The Mid-Range Narcissist”
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I think the one I was with is a hybrid of lessor and midrange….
Hi HG
How many traits of a Mid or Lesser range are similar in direct association with a psychopath? I’ve done quite a bit of study, but it seems when I get it figured out that my ex is just a Lesser, I find this post and now it seems he bears more traits with a Mid-range. Ignoring me was his greatest tool. I thought it was just because he figured it was the best punishment he could muster. Generally the ignoring came directly after my putting up a perfectly valid point or stating some truth he just couldn’t (or didn’t have the tools to) refute. He also displays many psychopathy traits. Seems he is just all round toxic. If you could help me narrow my research down a bit I would be grateful.
If you need assistance with ascertaining where the relevant narcissist falls with regard to cadre and school, please contact me concerning a consultation.
HG I want a consultation but I have so much to explain and It is hard in one email to explain so much
The audio consultation is your friend.
HG? You know like I didn’t know that there was a parallel world for narcs existing … Does this mean that a mid range narcissist also has no idea that my world exists??
The question really should be, does he care?
No, I want to know if he has any idea what he’s really up to?? Does he suspect that there is an additional level of perception? Course he does not care about my feelings.
My mother always said I was too overly sensitive, of course.
But she doesn’t seem to know what she is talking about at all!! I don’t care if they don’t know what they are missing out on, I would like to know if mid range men whom I have or will engage with (by accident), have any idea about what I am and what I sense?
In know that my exnarc didn’t care about what I sensed in regard to him, but he knew somehow that I did and I think that he sometimes was scared (or paranoid).
But what about the mid ranger??
No
I wonder what you are doing at the moment that you can answer only monosyllabic.
It that a “no, he has no idea”?
Lol you’ve made me laugh a lot today. 🙂 Thank you. I thought Macron and Putin looked like great drinking buddies.
Pleasure.
Hello HG,
you know, like we talked about D. Trumps games when meeting other presidents fo the first time? Like refusing to shake Angela Merkel’s hand? So, today he is all touchy and smiling like a satisfied cheshire at, even though it’s 19:1 on many issues.
Do you think now that it was done on purpose like he behaved towards the world at first, and now showing some good-will? Complimenting Chancellors and Ministers all of a sudden?
Why, how, ?
Any other thoughts on creating civil war like states in European cities, wasting our tax money?
Well given the fact the Polish First Lady took Melania’s hand first and left The Donald’s hanging in the air, expect Poland to have a wall built around it soon, paid for by the Poles. Which might actually do them a favour as Poland has little by way of natural terrain to defend it, hence why through history it has been oft invaded and partitioned.
That’s an unexpected answer. 🙂 Very polite that First Lady, though it’s always a problem to decide if to give the hand to the more powerful man present first or to the lady.
So, he was grinning because the others were compliant (kind of) after his power plays at first?
I can’t believe the photo of Ivanka kissing A. Merkel.
Why do you think Ivanka was allowed (by Trump) to take his place at the table for some time? Do you think he regards her as a true extension of himself? Then she has become the most powerful lady in the world, along with the Lady she works with, Christine Lagarde, who must be one of the toughest women in power. She cannot be functioning like me, I suspect (Lagarde).
It is often the case that leaders leave the table from time to time at the G20 and they are replaced by an aide. Ivanka is regarded/used as an aide also by The Donald – people lambast the substitution because
1. She is his daughter;
2. Because it is Donald Trump.
I saw nothing in it.
Oh, I see.
I am very impressed with her (Ivanka), I always liked her on the TV shows (The Apprentice).
You mean this non-handshake with the Polish First Lady? Haha, funny, thank you. I had missed that. Was more concerned with videos of Hamburg being turned into a civil war zone.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2017/jul/07/donald-trump-handshake-ignored-by-polands-first-lady-video
But how come Theresa May got the upper hand?!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/08/theresa-may-plays-g20-trump-card-attempt-quell-tory-rebellion/
Putin and Trump handshake was almost cute, and no pulling over, just patting the elbow, haha.
Hey Putin and Trump are good buddies as they both won the US Election.
Gosh you have the same name than my mid-range Narcissist. Is every Kevin a Mid Range Narc ?
No but they do drive Ford Escort Mk2 cars.
So all Mid-range Kevins are from Third World countries then?
HG: did you have Opel Mantas in England? Driven by guy with fox brush key chains? ;D
*lol* NarcAngel!
Aww, I think I played with one in the sand-pit of the neighbour’s boy.
Is it politically correct to say “3rd world” today?
Haha, my Indian friend in Mumbai couldn’t believe that I drive a Japanese car.
I don’t recognise that make and model, save that I know Opel is the continental version of what was Vauxhall here.
Ava101
Youre asking ME if its politically correct? I dont know-what number are we using now?
HG, is it possible for a lesser narcissist to gradually graduate into some traits of the mid range through learning new ways of interacting that serves him via his empaths reactions? So over time adapting his manoeuvres and therefore graduating (so to speak) to a mid range and then a Greater?
My narc seems to be mostly lesser, but sometimes shows signs of mid range depending on how strong I hold my boundaries in place against him, and some parts Greater also deep through.
Is there a 4th type being a “Tri Narc” profile, encapsulating an equal measure of each type?
Or is it a spectrum? So a low / mid and high level Lesser, high showing some signs of the mid level, and same with Mid and Greater?
Hope my questions are clear…
keen to have clarity on this .
No.
There is no fourth type. As I explained recently, certain characteristics are common to all schools, but some more than others. There ultimately will be determining factors however which allow a determination of the relevant school. An individual will have traits that are common to all schools, possibly some traits from different schools, but there will be a governing set of traits which amount to the determination.
A mid range narcissist deploys pity? Silent treatments? The incredible sulk is a fitting name for our kind. Brilliant HG.
Will I ever stop needing fuel at the expense of others?
Not if you ask HG, Kevin.
Does the mid-range know that he is incapable of love? Or does he believe that he loves?
No he does not. Yes he does.
Mid rangers make me gag…
Can you please tell me if the lesser moves up to a mid-range with experience or do the different ranges of NPD’s stay the level they are their whole lives? I keep thinking they would learn more with age, but then again, I am still trying to comprehend the whole situation… thanks.
No they remain in the same school.
Add some big pouffy curly grey hair to this picture and you have my mother in law down to the exact facial expression and arm stance this pic could be her. Shes definitely a midranger.
It was interested yesterday will at a restaurant i was telling her about my daughters friend whose definitely a narcissist at the tender age of 11 and i listed her characteristics. My mil was interested and asked if her mother was that way and if she learned it. I think shes putting two and two together that shes a narcissist herself. Not that itll change anything but i could see her interest piqued on the subject.
Thanks for clarifying now I know I deal with a mid range! He loves silent treatments! Gets mad over petty things then he emplements the silent treatment. Then cheats.
What am I to think when he says, that “I know you don’t believe me”?
He is putting you down for your lack of faith and he wants you to assert that you do believe him so he gains fuel and his control is underlined.
He was telling me he only had interest in me but simultaneously I found his dating profile online. Do your kind really think that we are that stupid/naive?
Yes.
Did you write this one, HG?
I write everything.
Brilliantly written HG. Love this format as its both entertaining and informative.
Question.
Do you hate the Mids most because they have less tools in their kit and are dull and unimaginative in always reverting to the silent treatment? That it is understood that the lazy git of the Lesser has no hope in ever elevating himself but that the Mid has some awareness and yet fails to cultivate it or show more intelligence, falling well short of the bar of the Greaters? A disappointment to your kind and your craft?
Before I had the terminology that you have graciously provided, I used to just call them Wanns-be Poser Blowholes, Fair to Middling Fucktards, or just plain Another Asshole, so you really have elevated them and they ought to thank you.
Thank you NA. I hate Lessers because they are generally stupid, lack sophistication and any inkling of finesse. I hate Mid-Rangers because they are insipid, cowardly and snivelling.