Those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (and Antisocial Personality Disorder) are frequently exploitative in interpersonal relationships, which relates to using others as objects to achieve personal gain.

This pervasiveness in narcissistic abusive relationships is underpinned by their sense of entitlement and lack of empathy.

Some people are particularly likely to exploit others to benefit themselves.

For instance, those lower (vs. higher) in Honesty-Humility are characterized as being relatively “sly, deceitful, greedy, pretentious, hypocritical, boastful, and pompous” instead of modest, fair-minded, honest, etc.

From a social-psychological perspective, several factors contribute to our willingness to exploit others.

First, we readily categorize the world into “us versus them,” with those in our ingroups given special treatment and evaluation and those in our outgroups treated with indifference (or worse).

This happens quickly and easily, with such tendencies being ubiquitous and powerful.

Second, distance (both literal and psychological) exacerbates these effects.

It is much easier to ignore the plight of others when you are far removed from the harm inflicted.

Third, we have difficulty understanding the magnitude of the suffering involved.

These effects are exacerbated when social categorization (“us vs. them” thinking) comes into play.