Someone with narcissistic personality disorder has an intense need for recognition and admiration, coupled with the belief that they are unique. They also tend to lack empathy for others. These traits lead to behavior that is often condescending and entitled, as well as manipulative. There's no one known cause of the disorder, and psychologists believe that it probably results from a combination of social and genetic factors. Fortunately, symptoms of the disorder typically decrease in severity and frequency with age.