The relationship between vulnerable narcissism and aggression in Japanese undergraduate students

Abstract

The links between narcissism and aggression have been documented in various studies. Researchers have distinguished between grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism and suggested that grandiose narcissism may predict aggression. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between vulnerable narcissism and aggression in sample groups of Japanese undergraduate students. In Study 1, vulnerable narcissism predicted anger and hostility but did not predict physical and verbal aggression, after controlling for grandiose narcissism and self-esteem. In Study 2, when individuals with higher levels of vulnerable narcissism recalled their own experience of social rejection, they gave more aggressive evaluations of the person who provoked them. These results suggest that vulnerable narcissism could increase specific facets of aggression and increase aggression in specific situations. This study discusses the implications for personality research and clinical practice.