“S/he’s Taken”

Abstract

Abstract. Narcissists’ threat reactivity can be differentiated into cognitive, emotional, and tactical-behavioral responses, and these dimensions of reactivity are presumed to vary as a function of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. The present research applied this conceptual model to situations involving a relationship threat from a rival. A college sample completed measures of vulnerable narcissism, pathological and non-pathological measures of grandiose narcissism, and then indicated anticipated cognitive, emotional, and tactical responses to situations involving high and low levels of rival threat. All narcissism forms generally converged on similar tactical responses – specifically, enhanced coercive and mate-value-enhancement tactics. Yet, both pathological and non-pathological expressions of grandiose narcissism diverged from vulnerable narcissism on cognitive and emotional outcomes, such that only vulnerable narcissism related to enhanced worrying and negative emotionality. Furthermore, all narcissism forms were more strongly related to coercive tactics against the rival following high (vs. low) rival threat.