Understanding Narcissism

[Whateverist]

Here again are the DSM criteria for recognizing narcissism which I posted under hide tags at the end of my first tl;dr post in this thread, but numbered this time for easier reference:

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• 1-Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
  
  
• 2-Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
  
  
• 3-Exaggerating your achievements and talents
  
  
• 4-Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
  
  
• 5-Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
  
  
• 6-Requiring constant admiration
  
  
• 7-Having a sense of entitlement
  
  
• 8-Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
  
  
• 9-Taking advantage of others to get what you want
  
  
• 10-Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
  
  
• 11-Being envious of others and believing others envy you
  
  
• 12-Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
  
  
  
  None of them directly address your question, but #10 comes closest.  You might interpret "an inability to recognize the needs and feelings of others" as meaning lacking the basic empathic machinery but it could also mean they just consistently aren't focussed on that.  The other half of #10, "or unwillingness to" supports that interpretation.  I think it is saying narcissists are either habitually unfocussed on the needs and feelings of others -or- they are actually motivated to ignore those things.That access to empathy is entirely missing would be a different disorder.