Yes, narcissists often want to be needed by others, but their desire to be needed is rooted in their need for constant validation and admiration rather than genuine care for others. Being needed feeds their ego and reinforces their sense of self-importance and superiority.
Narcissists thrive on attention and admiration, and being needed fulfills this need in several ways:
Boosting Self-Esteem: When others depend on them, narcissists feel a sense of validation and worthiness. Being needed helps them feel important and powerful.
Control and Manipulation: By being needed, narcissists can maintain control over others. They may exploit this dependence to manipulate and exert power over people.
Source of Supply: Being needed provides a constant source of narcissistic supply - the attention, admiration, and validation they crave to fuel their grandiosity.
Attention and Focused Admiration: When others rely on them, narcissists receive undivided attention and admiration. This attention reinforces their sense of superiority.
It's important to note that while narcissists may enjoy being needed, their motivations are self-centered and lack genuine care for others' well-being. Their desire to be needed is not driven by a healthy desire to support and help others, but rather to fulfill their own emotional needs and maintain their inflated self-image.
However, as with any personality trait, narcissism exists on a spectrum, and not all individuals with narcissistic traits may display the same level of desire to be needed. Some individuals with milder narcissistic traits might still experience a desire for attention and validation but may not display the full range of manipulative behaviors associated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).