The thing is, there is no one way a person living with NPD will act.

However, researchers and medical professionals have determined certain overarching characteristics of how NPD impacts emotional expression.

Can a Narcissist Cry?

Shot of young wife expressing empathy and compassion to her sad frustrated husband.

VioletaStoimenova / Getty Images

This is not true.

Like anyone, people living with NPD feel and express their emotions differently.

What Emotions Can Narcissists Show?

Narcissists haveemotions, the same as everyone else.

There is a common misconception that narcissists dont feel, says Dr. Little.

This is not true.

They can feeljealous, insecure, embarrassed, frustrated, happy, and many more emotions.

What brings on each emotion might sometimes differ from that of someone not living with NPD.

They can feel jealous, insecure, embarrassed, frustrated, happy, and many more emotions.

What brings on each emotion might sometimes differ from that of someone not living with NPD.

If a Narcissist Cries, Are They Real Tears?

For most people, the tears start flowing if often its because theyre upset or sad about something.

Their emotional expressions are frequently strategic and may serve specific purposes, says Ficken.

Sometimes, crying may be genuine, representing emotional distress or frustration.

What Makes a Narcissist Cry?

A narcissist might cry for many reasons.

Angela Ficken, psychotherapist

Their emotional expressions are frequently strategic and may serve specific purposes.

Typically, a person who lives with narcissistic personality disorder doesnt experience much or any guilt or remorse.

Harold Hong, a board-certified psychiatrist at New Waters Recovery.

Like many psychological disorders, there is a spectrum of narcissismsome people experience it more severely than others.

Generally speaking, those at higher levels of narcissism may have difficulty feeling guilt or remorse over their actions.

A 2018 study found a negative association betweengrandiose narcissismand being prone to guilt.

The same was true forvulnerable narcissism.