Not all narcissists are grandiose – the ‘vulnerable’ type can be just as dangerous

The introverted narcissist is harder to spot and may be more sinister

We pretty much know what narcissism is by now. The description narcissist" is a buzzword, a darling of amateur analysts. Those needy, charismatic attention-grabbers stride across the world's stage, using and confusing those who fall for their charms. They have the perfect platform in a culture obsessed with both celebrity and social media. They rule countries, they mesmerise, they manipulate and wreak havoc.

But beyond the more showy and recognisable type lurks a lesser known and essentially more dangerous sub-species. Where your standard overt narcissist is a wolf in wolf's clothing, the covert narcissist is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The more silent and subtle variation is often more confusing and sinister," says Dr Sarah Davies, psychologist and author of Never Again - Moving on from Narcissistic Abuse and Other Toxic Relationships.