Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a clinically diagnosed personality disorder characterized by a grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy toward other people.

Just as there aren't really innate differences between men's and women's personalities, there aren't exactly innate differences between male and female narcissists.

But men and women are socialized differently and thus are more likely to develop specific personality traits, and these differences can be seen between male and female narcissists as well.

"Although there are shared narcissistic traits between male and female narcissists, there are some differences in which their narcissism is exhibited," psychoanalyst Babita Spinelli, L.P., tells mbg.

When male narcissists are angry, they tend to be aggressive and explosive (especially malignant narcissists).

When female narcissists are angry, though, Spinelli says they'll punish their victims by withholding attention and affection. 

"Female narcissists utilize neglect or guilt as a form of control," she says, "whereas male narcissists are more likely to utilize power and status as a form of control." 

Another way both male and female narcissists gain control and affection is through codependent people. The psychoanalytic term for this is a "narcissistic supply." 

The female narcissist can typically be seen as the martyr or the virtuous victim. "Their pain is greater than anyone's pain, their efforts are bigger than anyone's efforts, their suffering is more extraordinary than anyone else's suffering," therapist Wendy Behary, LCSW, tells mbg.

Like all narcissists, female narcissists are deeply insecure. In an attempt to mask their insecurities or flaws, female narcissists tend to be overly concerned with their physical appearance and social image—sometimes referred to as somatic narcissism.

"The female narcissist is not genuinely interested in things like character and values unless it is used as part of her image," Spinelli says. 

"A female narcissist will be fiercely competitive," Spinelli says. "She has the desire to be the smartest, prettiest, most successful, and charming woman in the room."

Similar to a conversational narcissist, Behary says female narcissists always circle conversations back to their own experiences.  

An overbearing and over-controlling parent may be a sign of a female narcissist. According to Behary, these females will show up at their kid's house and start rearranging furniture, rewashing the clothes, or telling them how to discipline their kids.

This is because they believe they have a superior way of doing things and view themselves as experts in all situations, she explains. 

One of the biggest misconceptions is that female narcissists don't exist at all, likely because of the way men and women tend to be socialized and given different sets of expectations.

Men are diagnosed with NPD at much higher rates, but female narcissists do exist. 

Another misconception is that female narcissists are not as violent or emotionally abusive as males. "Often their male victims may not speak up about it because of feelings of shame," Spinelli says. Similarly, some people believe female narcissists are nicer than male ones.

While male narcissists might be more outwardly recognizable, female narcissists do exist. They tend to be more manipulative socially and can be just as vindictive as a male narcissist.

They tend to play the victim, be overly jealous and competitive, superficial, and overbearing.