Self-judgment. The driving force behind narcissistic cruelty is their own, deeply hidden inside, cruelty to themselves. Narcissists want to appear grandiose, most of all, to themselves. If you want to think of yourself as grandiose, you have damn high standards for yourself. Hence the terms “narcissistic injury” and “narcissistic rage”. It is very painful for them when others question their grandiosity, and this leads to aggression.