Narcissists often carry a deep conviction that they are special — unique, misunderstood, and destined for greatness. They believe only certain people (those equally “special”) can truly understand them. This trait serves as both a shield and a weapon: a shield from accountability (“ordinary people just don’t get me”) and a weapon to dismiss authority, experts, or anyone who challenges their fantasy.

For Mark Anthony Stephens, this belief shows up everywhere.

What the “Special” Belief Looks Like in Mark

• Above the Experts
  Doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, even judges — Mark dismisses them all as biased, corrupt, or incompetent. At the Kartini Clinic, he claimed ARFID (a well-documented eating disorder) was invented for profit. When medical professionals gave clear, evidence-based treatment plans for his son, Mark rejected them in favor of his own “special knowledge” and alternative theories.
• Prophet Among Men
  On social media, Mark positions himself as a spiritual voice — someone called by God to see what others cannot. He posts as though he has divine access to hidden truths, while branding others as blind, deceived, or lost. In this narrative, he isn’t just another man; he’s chosen.
• The Misunderstood Genius
  Mark often frames himself as the one who “figured it out” — that he sees the bigger picture, the corruption, the conspiracies that everyone else misses. This belief excuses his failures: if others don’t agree with him, it’s not because he’s wrong, but because they’re not enlightened enough to understand.
• Selective Association
  Mark attaches himself to fringe figures — self-proclaimed prophets, extreme “health” advocates, and those on the margins of credibility. He seeks out the voices that echo his worldview and rejects anyone who offers a reality check.

The Reality Behind the Mask

The “special” belief isolates Mark from accountability. If he’s special, then he’s above the rules. If he’s chosen, then consequences don’t apply. If only certain people can understand him, then anyone who challenges him can be dismissed as ignorant. But in reality, this isn’t uniqueness — it’s arrogance. And it leaves him surrounded not by truth, but by enablers.

His children don’t need a “special” father who thinks he’s above doctors, courts, and responsibilities. They need a present father who shows up in the ordinary, unglamorous, consistent ways: paying child support, keeping appointments, listening, protecting, and loving. There’s nothing “special” about shirking responsibility.

This is the third mask removed: The “Special” Belief.
Next, we’ll look at the narcissist’s insatiable need for admiration — and how Mark constantly seeks validation from an audience while failing the people who matter most.