The speaker explains that pathological narcissists constantly wear a ‘mask’ (persona) — presenting a polished, normal exterior while harboring inner chaos and vulnerability. Their social world is inverted: strangers are pursued for narcissistic supply while intimates are treated as threats, and they employ reverse fundamental attribution (externalizing blame) alongside referential ideation and hostile attribution bias. This produces pervasive paranoia and negative affectivity, creating a deep conflict between a grandiose self-image and a sense of victimhood that can precipitate anxiety or collapse. Narcissist’s Mask of Normalcy