In a marriage, both parties need to put forth effort, be committed, and be respectful for the union to be a mutually satisfying and loving one. When both partners are emotionally well balanced and the relationship dynamic is healthy, this work can make the marriage enjoyable and successful in the long term. Unfortunately, there are instances where a healthy relationship dynamic is virtually impossible to achieve because of a personality disorder. These disorders affect a person’s thinking and behavior in such a way that interpersonal relationships are often very negatively affected.

A personality disorder that is commonly very destructive in relationships is narcissism, and it is more commonly diagnosed in men. If you find yourself often bewildered or hurt by your husband’s actions and nothing seems to change, it is possible that the explanation could be narcissism. While only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose a personality disorder, it is helpful to know the signs of narcissism. Here are 8 indicators that your husband might be a narcissist:

1. Your partner displays a lack of empathy for others. This means that he doesn’t put himself in the shoes of others, and doesn’t identify properly with the feelings and needs of others. This frequently leads to acts that are self serving and callous. This is not having a healthy ego, but inflating and exaggerating accomplishments beyond true measure. He may have a sense of entitlement and expect preferential treatment from those around him. You may have the unfortunate experience of being put up on a pedestal as an ideal partner, then later devalued as completely worthless and dismissed or discarded. Often there is little ground in between these two extremes.