Yes, a narcissist can experience sadness when someone close to them, such as a parent or grandparent, dies. However, their experience of sadness may be different from someone without narcissism due to their unique personality traits and emotional patterns.
Narcissists can have complex emotional responses to significant life events, including the death of a loved one. Their sadness may be genuine, but it could be intertwined with other emotions, such as anger, frustration, or a sense of loss regarding the attention and validation they used to receive from the deceased individual.
Here are some ways in which a narcissist's experience of sadness might differ from that of someone without narcissism:
Self-focused grief: A narcissist's sadness may often be more self-focused, centered around how the loss impacts them personally, rather than being solely focused on the deceased and their family's grief.
Seeking attention and sympathy: Some narcissists might use the situation to gain attention and sympathy from others. They may exaggerate their grief or put on a show of emotion to draw attention to themselves.
Shifting focus to themselves: In moments of grief, narcissists might redirect conversations and discussions to make it about their feelings and experiences, instead of fully empathizing with others' grief.
Lack of empathy: While a narcissist may experience sadness, their capacity for genuine empathy toward others who are grieving might be limited. They may struggle to provide the emotional support and comfort that someone without narcissism can offer.
Rapid recovery: Narcissists might recover from their sadness relatively quickly, especially if they find new sources of attention or validation to replace the emotional void left by the deceased individual.
It's essential to recognize that each individual is unique, and the extent to which a narcissist feels sadness and its expression can vary widely. Some narcissists may display more authentic grief, while others may struggle to genuinely connect with their emotions and those of others during such difficult times.