The anxious addictive narcissist: The relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, anxiety symptoms and Facebook Addiction.

Julia Brailovskaia,Elke Rohmann,Jürgen Margraf,Hans-Werner Bierhoff,Kenji Hashimoto

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0241632

Abstract

Vulnerable narcissism and grandiose narcissism share the core of the narcissistic self but are considered as separate forms of this personality trait. While previous research mainly focused on the mechanisms that connect grandiose narcissism and addictive use of the social platform Facebook, it remained unclear why individuals with enhanced levels of vulnerable narcissism are at risk to develop Facebook Addiction (FA). The present study investigated the links between vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, anxiety symptoms, and FA. In a sample of 327 Facebook users (age: M(SD) = 23.67(3.96), range: 18–56), both forms of narcissism were positively related to anxiety symptoms and FA. Moreover, the association between both forms of narcissism and FA was partly mediated by anxiety symptoms. Results enter new territory by revealing hidden similarities between vulnerable and grandiose narcissists, emphasizing that similar mechanisms might explain their enhanced risk to develop addictive tendencies of Facebook use. These findings should be considered when assessing individuals at risk for FA and when developing (therapeutic) intervention programs to deal with problematic use of social platforms.

Highlights

More than two decades ago, Wink described the two faces of narcissism–the grandiose and the vulnerable [1]. Both forms of narcissism share the core of the narcissistic self [2] including the strong belief in the own uniqueness and superiority, a high level of self-love, a strong sense of entitlement, and emphasis on self-serving bias
The current study provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in the association between vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, anxiety symptoms, and addictive Facebook use
Current results indicate that vulnerable as well as grandiose narcissists may be at risk to develop tendencies of addictive Facebook use

Summary

Introduction

More than two decades ago, Wink described the two faces of narcissism–the grandiose and the vulnerable [1]. Both forms of narcissism share the core of the narcissistic self [2] including the strong belief in the own uniqueness and superiority, a high level of self-love, a strong sense of entitlement, and emphasis on self-serving bias. There are considerable differences between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism that emphasize the dual nature of this personality trait [9]. Individuals with enhanced levels of grandiose narcissism typically initiate many superficial social contacts. They present themselves as charming, charismatic, smart, self-confident, open-

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