Well for queerness, that’s true. The link between asexuality and NPD exists for complicated historical reasons, including Lord Byron. But for neurodivergence, not so. Childhood trauma can cause certain forms of neurodivergence owing to fundamental changes in the way we interpret later experiences. Small childrens’ brains are still developing, and abuse can interrupt important processes that occur after birth, including the formation of a child’s sense of self.

This is the fundamental mechanism behind the B cluster of personality disorders, including NPD. People with NPD are neuro-divergent. Our brains work differently than egotypicals’ brains. That is to say, people whose sense of self is neurologically within the average range. Egotypicals are able to regulate their self-image quite effortlessly in comparison with people who have Cluster B disorders. This is because of healthy experiences in early childhood, and genetics are also believed to play a role, though this role is not yet understood.