Narcissists generally do not fully know or realize what they are doing in terms of the impact of their behavior on others. They often lack self- awareness, impaired insight, and empathy, which makes it difficult for them to genuinely understand their narcissistic behaviors or how they hurt others. They tend to have a distorted self-view protected by defense mechanisms like denial and projection. While they may be aware that others see them negatively or that their actions can manipulate social situations, they often do not recognize these behaviors as problematic or intentionally harmful because their fragile self-esteem and defense mechanisms shield them from facing their flaws. Some experts also explain that narcissists truly believe their internal self-view (that they are superior or flawless), so they may not recognize their manipulative or harmful behavior as such, often believing their own lies or justification for their actions. In some sense, they "know," but not in a full reflective, empathetic way that most people would understand knowing to mean. Their behaviors are often automatic survival strategies rather than fully conscious or intentional decisions to harm others. This means their awareness is limited and selective, influenced by deep psychological defense mechanisms and cognitive biases. In summary, narcissists may have some awareness that their behavior affects others, but generally they do not have full insight or understanding of what they are doing or its emotional consequences due to lack of self-awareness and empathy.