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The results of this research: vulnerable narcissists get badly affected by stress; grandiose narcissists not so much.

I guess that's pretty much as expected ;)

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This is very interesting, pathologically rather than medically. Perhaps the milder or socially aware subjects find that grandiosity is enough to counteract their feelings of shame- the commonly understood cause of narcissism. It may very well be that depending on the level of shame, some narcissists might need to employ the more destructive strategies. While grandiose narcissists find that egoism is adequate to counteract their shame, vulnerable narcissists might need more aggressive strategies.

Grandiosity does not result in the more socially destructive effects, among all the known strategies. Many narcissists devalue those in their surroundings, to suggest a favorable comparison of themselves to others. That along with domineering control, like gaslighting, deceptions, manipulations, are the more socially destructive strategies. Understanding the strategic differences through measurable stress response could help psychiatry better understand the spectrum of the disorder and resulting strategies more completely.

Personality psychology seems to have been formed by a bunch of privileged people pathologizing those with trauma, neglect and disability because those people couldn’t fit into an office or factory.

And if you have narcissistic tendencies due to bipolar, you can cycle between vulnerable and grandiose. (Speaking from experience I'm sorry to say.)

Sorry you're going through all of that; it must be challenging. I think it is fortunate that our society has greater awareness of these things now (though of course it'd a double-edged-sword - with increased opportunities for misunderstandings also...)

Cheers. It's been 25 years, all but 'cured' now. My comment was more looking back. : )

I think that too sometimes. Some laypeople and students tend to want to diagnose and classify everyone around them (oftentimes with the wrong labels and because they don't understand or like the person) and some trained professionals also like to pigeonhole people without attempting to really get to know them or understand them as well (many "mental health" professionals don't belong in the profession at all). Sometimes personality disorder labels = societal persecution and rejection vs someone getting the help they need especially those labelled as having cluster B traits.

Yup, and calling people mentally ill for wanting to climb in life. "You were born a slave, you will live as a slave, and die a slave. Now get back to work."

Maybe but good thing this isn't always the case. For example, see Carl Roger's work.