Candace Owens, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and the Allure of Moral Certainty

Let me begin with an important clarification:

I am not qualified to diagnose anyone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), and I am not diagnosing any public figure. Personality disorders can only be assessed properly by trained clinicians through structured evaluation.

What I can speak to, however, is pattern recognition.

Through my work in parental alienation advocacy and exposure to family law cases, I have encountered a significant number of individuals who were formally diagnosed with Cluster B personality disorders — including Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic, and Antisocial Personality Disorder. In severe alienation cases, these traits often play a role in reputation destruction, black-and-white thinking, and mobilizing others to attack a target.

When I observe certain public dynamics — particularly online pile-ons and coordinated moral outrage — I cannot help but notice similarities.

The Power of Moral Mobilization

Public commentators like Candace Owens have built large platforms by speaking with moral clarity and certainty. Many people are drawn to that clarity, especially in a polarized world.

However, there is a psychological dynamic worth examining:

When a public figure identifies a target and frames them as corrupt, evil, immoral, or dangerous, followers may feel justified — even virtuous — in attacking that person. This can escalate into reputation destruction campaigns that resemble what we see in high-conflict custody disputes.

In parental alienation cases, one parent often:

Frames themselves as morally righteous.

Frames themselves as morally righteous.

Casts the other parent as dangerous or evil.

Casts the other parent as dangerous or evil.

Recruits others (friends, family, professionals, sometimes even children) to validate the narrative.

Recruits others (friends, family, professionals, sometimes even children) to validate the narrative.

Experiences intense validation from group loyalty.

Experiences intense validation from group loyalty.

This dynamic can look disturbingly similar to certain online political movements.

Again, this is about patterns, not diagnosis.

Cluster B Traits and Reputation Sabotage

Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior. In severe parental alienation cases, I have often seen:

Extreme black-and-white thinking.

Extreme black-and-white thinking.

Lack of empathy for the targeted parent.

Lack of empathy for the targeted parent.

Public virtue signaling combined with private aggression.

Public virtue signaling combined with private aggression.

Smear campaigns framed as “protective” or “moral.”

Smear campaigns framed as “protective” or “moral.”

Some individuals with narcissistic traits are particularly skilled at appearing virtuous.

The Communal (Pro-Social) Narcissist

Most people think of narcissists as grandiose and self-absorbed. But research has identified another presentation: the communal narcissist.

Communal narcissists:

Present themselves as morally superior.

Present themselves as morally superior.

Portray themselves as uniquely compassionate or protective.

Portray themselves as uniquely compassionate or protective.

Seek admiration for their altruism.

Seek admiration for their altruism.

Frame criticism as persecution.

Frame criticism as persecution.

Publicly champion causes while privately centering themselves.

Publicly champion causes while privately centering themselves.

They do not seek admiration for wealth or beauty — they seek admiration for their virtue.

They often say (explicitly or implicitly):

“No one cares about this issue as much as I do.”

“No one cares about this issue as much as I do.”

“I am the only one brave enough to say this.”

“I am the only one brave enough to say this.”

“If you disagree, you are immoral.”

“If you disagree, you are immoral.”

This can be extremely persuasive.

The Covert Narcissist

Another less obvious form is the covert (or vulnerable) narcissist.

Hypersensitivity to criticism.

Hypersensitivity to criticism.

Chronic feelings of being misunderstood or persecuted.

Chronic feelings of being misunderstood or persecuted.

Passive-aggressive retaliation.

Passive-aggressive retaliation.

Public humility masking private entitlement.

Public humility masking private entitlement.

Framing themselves as the victim while orchestrating subtle aggression.

Framing themselves as the victim while orchestrating subtle aggression.

In high-conflict cases, covert narcissistic traits can fuel long-term reputation sabotage. The individual appears wounded and morally justified — but the damage they inflict can be profound.

Why People Join the Mob

There are psychological studies on why people participate in collective attacks:

Moral elevation and moral outrage activate reward systems in the brain.

Moral elevation and moral outrage activate reward systems in the brain.

Social media amplifies tribal belonging.

Social media amplifies tribal belonging.

Public condemnation signals loyalty to the group.

Public condemnation signals loyalty to the group.

Attacking a designated “villain” feels righteous.

Attacking a designated “villain” feels righteous.

This dynamic is not unique to one political side or one public figure. It is human.

But it becomes dangerous when:

Individuals are dehumanized.

Individuals are dehumanized.

Reputation destruction becomes entertainment.

Reputation destruction becomes entertainment.

Autism and Social Targeting

As someone who has been diagnosed as autistic, I have often struggled to understand why certain individuals become repeated targets of reputation sabotage — especially when they are socially awkward, literal, or non-strategic. Throughout my life, I am usually the target of the pro-social, communal narcissist.

Research shows that individuals who:

Do not intuitively read social hierarchies,

Do not intuitively read social hierarchies,

Fail to engage in strategic alliance-building,

Fail to engage in strategic alliance-building,

may become easy targets in high-conflict social environments.

They often do not see the smear campaign forming until it is well underway.

It is essential not to weaponize mental health labels against political opponents. Overusing terms like “narcissist” can itself become a form of mobbing.

However, understanding personality dynamics — especially communal and covert narcissistic traits — can help us recognize:

How moral language can mask ego needs.

How moral language can mask ego needs.

How virtue can be used as a shield.

How virtue can be used as a shield.

How group loyalty can override empathy.

How group loyalty can override empathy.

How reputation destruction can be framed as righteousness.

How reputation destruction can be framed as righteousness.

In family court, this destroys children’s relationships with loving parents.

Online, it destroys public discourse.

I am not diagnosing any public figure.

I am asking readers to consider patterns.

When someone consistently:

Frames themselves as uniquely virtuous,

Frames themselves as uniquely virtuous,

Encourages followers to attack perceived enemies,

Encourages followers to attack perceived enemies,

Thrives on moral outrage,

Thrives on moral outrage,

And treats dissent as betrayal,

And treats dissent as betrayal,

it is worth pausing and asking:

Is this leadership — or is this something else?

Understanding Cluster B dynamics has helped me make sense of behaviors I once found confusing and painful. My hope is that greater psychological literacy will reduce the power of smear campaigns — whether in family court or on the public stage.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)