Abstract
The present qualitative study aims at investigating the role of socio-relational variables in the construction of threats to self-esteem, grandiosity, and relaxation in a non-clinical sample of 35 young university students. The work provides fresh experimental evidence of the structural analogy observed in clinical settings between constructions of threat to self-esteem and grandiose fantasies. We hypothesize that the relational dimension would be more strongly present than either biological or psychological dimensions.The results show that descriptions of relaxation differ significantly from their characterizations of the other two domains. Specifically we found greater continuity and narrative connection between the aspects of threat and grandiosity, while the domain of relaxation showed a more “isolated” pattern.
Highlights
As defined by DSM IV-TR [1], the distinctive traits of patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) include grandiose fantasies of power, success and/or superiority; a feeling of entitlement; and an inability to appreciate the successes and good qualities of others [2]
The semantic network of the psychological dimension revolved around the “node” of “self-esteem”, and that of the socio-relational dimension around nodes concerning significant relationships and themes of social belonging and loneliness
The results appear to confirm our hypothesis regarding the key importance of the socio-relational dimension in relation to threat and grandiosity
Summary
As defined by DSM IV-TR [1], the distinctive traits of patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) include grandiose fantasies of power, success and/or superiority; a feeling of entitlement; and an inability to appreciate the successes and good qualities of others [2]. Horowitz [3] suggested that grandiose states are a defensive manoeuvre with the function of mitigating feelings of low self-esteem and masking a deep-lying sense of inferiority and shame. Through their grandiose fantasies, narcissists attempt to protect themselves from criticism and humiliation, both of which they experience as intolerable [413]. Veronese and colleaugues [16] reported empirical evidence of an interconnection between grandiose fantasies and fantasies of threats to self-esteem in a study with a nonclinical sample; in contrast, evoking relaxing scenarios has been found to distract subjects from narcissistic contents [17].
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