Covert narcissist women
Covert narcissism is a type of narcissism that is hidden, unlike overt narcissism. While an overt narcissist openly displays core narcissistic traits like selfishness, lack of empathy, grandiosity, and attention-seeking, a covert narcissist shows these traits in less obvious ways.
Men are likely to be overt narcissists, and women are likely to be covert narcissists.1Onofrei, L. (2009). A critical examination of the theoretical and empirical overlap between overt narcissism and male narcissism and between covert narcissism and female narcissism. This may be because women tend to be more social than men and are aware of the social costs of overt narcissism. So, unlike overt narcissist men, covert narcissist women seek domination and control under the radar.
Covert narcissist mother and trauma
Since our mothers tend to be our primary attachment figures, growing up with a covert narcissist mom means you likely suffered narcissistic abuse. This likely had a significant psychological impact on you, shaping your personality and how you behave in relationships. If your mom is a covert narcissist, you likely developed an insecure attachment style.2Monk, I. R. (2001). Adult children of covertly narcissistic families: a look at their romantic relationships (Doctoral dissertation, University of British Columbia).
About the test
This test consists of 20 items on a 2-point Yes/No scale. It’s designed for the adult child of a suspected covert narcissistic mother. If you suspect your mom is a covert narcissist, this quiz will clarify things. It’s not meant to be a diagnostic tool but should be used for informational purposes only, giving you an idea of how strong your mother’s covert narcissistic tendencies are.
The test is free to take, and your results are only displayed to you. We neither store them in our database nor share them with anyone.
Want a broader assessment of covert narcissism in people around you? Try the covert narcissist test.
