Selfish describes behaviour — putting your own interests first in a given case. Narcissist describes a personality pattern involving grandiosity, a need for admiration and limited empathy, and in clinical use refers to a diagnosable disorder. Everyone acts selfishly sometimes; that is not the same as a pervasive personality pattern.
The core difference
One describes an act, the other a person — and one of them is a clinical term.
- selfish — behaviour putting your own interests first, often at others' cost. Situational.
- narcissist — a personality pattern; clinically, narcissistic personality disorder.
Why the distinction is worth keeping
Narcissist has become a common label in everyday conversation for anyone behaving badly. That drift is worth resisting, not out of pedantry but because it flattens two different claims: that someone acted badly once, and that they have a pervasive, diagnosable pattern. Only a clinician can assess the second, and the word loses its meaning if it does the job of the first.
The origin
From Narcissus in Greek myth, who fell in love with his own reflection. The term entered psychology in the early twentieth century and moved into general use much later.
This page explains the words. It is not a diagnostic guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is being selfish the same as being a narcissist?
No. Selfish describes behaviour in a situation. Narcissist describes a pervasive personality pattern, and clinically a diagnosable disorder.
Where does the word narcissist come from?
From Narcissus in Greek myth, who fell in love with his own reflection. It entered psychology in the early twentieth century.
Can anyone be called a narcissist?
The word is widely used casually, but the clinical sense describes a diagnosable pattern that only a qualified professional can assess.