Power, Envy, Shame, and Emptyness: The Dark Side of Narcissism at Work

Workplace bullying is a persistent and damaging phenomenon, often perpetrated by individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) or pronounced narcissistic traits. These individuals leverage power and control to manipulate others, motivated by envy and a deep-seated sense of inner emptiness and shame (Stiefenhofer et al., 2025; Yıldırım & Yıldırım, 2022). Understanding the psychological roots and behavioral patterns of those with narcissism is essential for addressing the antagonistic dynamics that damage employee and organizational health. Read on.