Male Narcissism Research Articles

Gender bias in assessing narcissistic personality: Exploring the utility of the ICD-11 dimensional model.

Narcissistic personality disorder as captured in categorical diagnostic systems (e.g., DSM-5) emphasizes grandiose features more associated with masculine norms and under-emphasizes vulnerable features more associated with femininity. This poses significant implications in diagnostic outcome and clinical treatment in women with narcissistic preoccupations. Research finds that clinicians using the DSM-5 categorical system tend to diagnose vulnerable narcissism in women as other 'feminized' personality disorders (e.g., borderline), but no research has explored gender differences in narcissism using the new ICD-11 dimensional framework for personality disorders. This study investigated the clinical utility of the ICD-11 approach in capturing gender differences in narcissistic presentations. Adopting an online vignette-based study, mental health clinicians (N = 157; 71.3% female) completed ratings of ICD-11 personality disorder severity and trait domains for two cases reflecting 'grandiose' and 'vulnerable' narcissism in hypothetical male or female patients. The results showed that ratings of core impairments in personality functioning and overall severity were consistent irrespective of patient or clinician gender, contrasting prior research using categorical models. While some differences were observed in trait domain (e.g., negative affectivity) between patient gender, these results suggest the clinical utility of the ICD-11 model as emphasizing elements of personality functioning in the process of assessment and diagnosis, therefore potentially being less susceptible to influences of gender stereotype in aiding clinical conceptualization.

Le primat du phallus, talon d’Achille de l’appareil psychique ? Réflexions autour du cancer de la prostate

ContextThe clinical study of prostate cancer, particularly from a psychopathological perspective, remains relatively underexplored yet it serves as a site for serious and often lasting questioning of the erectile capacities of the penis, and thus potentially of the phantasmatic investments it is subject to. Moreover, this common cancer is particularly linked to the issue of aging, which radically tests the fragilities and narcissistic resources of patients. Power, performance, endurance, and counter-investment against passivity and depression become particularly acute issues in the relationship to oneself, to women, and to men. It then appears essential to delineate the psychological stakes of phallic demand in the articulation between the psychic reality of infantile sexuality and the external realities of aging, illness, and social representations. ObjectivesThis study aims to understand how the traumatic experience of prostate cancer—an acute realization and embodiment of aging and vulnerability—reveals fault lines not only shaped by the primacy of the phallus but also reinforced by societal phallic logic, balancing constraints and ideals. It seeks to discern the fragilities and resources of male narcissism related to phallic demands and their implications. The primacy of the phallus and its associated infantile sexual theory are thus questioned in their organizing or disorganizing roles. MethodThe study is based on a multifaceted methodology: an examination of the taboo surrounding the representation of the male sex in painting, semi-structured interviews, and projective tests conducted with twenty men in their sixties who have been treated for prostate cancer. A case study allows for a thorough and heuristic articulation of theoretical and clinical questions. ResultsHonor and virility emerge as particularly significant narcissistic issues, contributing to a hypomanic masculinity that enables men to shift the stakes of various anxieties (death anxiety, passivity anxiety, and castration anxiety) into the form of another anxiety: a narcissistic death anxiety rooted in virility, the dread of no longer existing as a man in the eyes of others. At the intersection of social, psychosexual, and somatopsychic spheres, prostate cancer thus uncovers a taboo Achilles’ heel. This is composed of unconscious interactions and loyalties between the phallic demand (both internal and external) and a partial dependency on the sensory dimension of erection, necessitating a reevaluation of masculinity, the phallus, and erection independent of sensory perception. InterpretationsSociety reinforces the confusion between the sensory perception of erection and the sense of virility and masculine reassurance on a psychological level through a collective and cultural imagination that associates characteristics of power, endurance, and vigor with a “good” virility, and attributes of vulnerability with a “crisis of virility.” These observations, beyond the scope of organic pathology, could contribute to the broader debate on gender issues, the formation of ideologies, and ultra-virilist movements.

The Attractiveness of Dark Triad Characteristics in Facial Composites with Respect to Gender

The attractiveness of the human face is influenced by many different facial characteristics, which convey important information about the other person. Facial features provide signals related to various biological and psychological qualities of an individual supporting mutual mating interactions. Previous studies have mainly focused on the identification of features that indicate positive and desirable characteristics in the potential partner. However, it is equally important for people to react to the presence of negative characteristics. In terms of high-risk features, Dark Triad characteristics, including subclinical narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, play a major role. The study focuses on the assessment of the attractiveness of these three characteristics in female and male computerised facial composites, while taking the gender of the assessor into consideration. The results show that the only negatively assessed characteristics were identified by female evaluators (male narcissism and female psychopathy). The other significant results showed that the Dark Triad characteristics are evaluated as attractive.

Unmasking the Social Constructions of Male and Female Narcissism in the Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Contemporary UK Newspaper Articles

This study takes a critical discursive approach to investigate the role of gender in the portrayal of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) in UK media discourse. The main objective is to build a more comprehensive theoretical framework that deciphers the existing discourse on NPD, including the potential stigmatisation of specific genders and hidden assumptions of NPD. By employing a more nuanced and subjectively relevant approach, this study delves into the gender dynamics of NPD through public opinion to transcend the limitations imposed by rigid psychometric accounts and clinical studies that characterised earlier NPD literature. The NexisLexis UK online search database was accessed to search and collect UK national newspapers from the past 5 years (2017–2023). A total of nine articles consisting of 5,549 words were selected for analysis, with approximately 2,700 words allocated to each gender. Three repertoires of NPD and narcissism were identified: (a) male narcissism and traditional gender norms; (b) female narcissism as less threatening; and (c) narcissism as predominantly male. The analysis findings provide insight into the complex interaction between narcissism, gender, and the media, revealing how existing gender myths and social biases in the discourse of NPD can contribute to the perpetuation of power imbalances and gender stereotypes. The male-related repertoires are overwhelmingly dominant in the discourse, whereas the female-related ones construct the meaning of narcissism in different ways and reveal different types of subject positions for both genders. The study finds that the representations of male narcissism in the media are closely aligned with traditional gender norms and relationship expectations, contributing to the reinforcement of harmful gender stereotypes and power dynamics. While the female discourse on narcissism is portrayed as less threatening and more discreet, potentially leading to minimised recognition and treatment of NPD in women and maintaining social inequalities. Lastly, the portrayal of narcissism as a predominantly male issue may inadvertently stigmatise men while simultaneously marginalising women's experiences, limiting a comprehensive understanding of narcissism among genders. The findings of this study emphasised the importance of challenging and deconstructing traditional gender norms, harmful stereotypes, and biases in the discourse of NPD and narcissism.

Age and gender differences in narcissism: A comprehensive study across eight measures and over 250,000 participants.

Age and gender differences in narcissism have been studied often. However, considering the rich history of narcissism research accompanied by its diverging conceptualizations, little is known about age and gender differences across various narcissism measures. The present study investigated age and gender differences and their interactions across eight widely used narcissism instruments (i.e., Narcissistic Personality Inventory, Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale, Dirty Dozen, Psychological Entitlement Scale, Narcissistic Personality Disorder Symptoms from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Version IV, Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire-Short Form, Single-Item Narcissism Scale, and brief version of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory). The findings of Study 1 (N = 5,736) revealed heterogeneity in how strongly the measures are correlated. Some instruments loaded clearly on one of the three factors proposed by previous research (i.e., Neuroticism, Extraversion, Antagonism), while others cross-loaded across factors and in distinct ways. Cross-sectional analyses using each measure and meta-analytic results across all measures (Study 2) with a total sample of 270,029 participants suggest consistent linear age effects (random effects meta-analytic effect of r = -.104), with narcissism being highest in young adulthood. Consistent gender differences also emerged (random effects meta-analytic effect was -.079), such that men scored higher in narcissism than women. Quadratic age effects and Age × Gender effects were generally very small and inconsistent. We conclude that despite the various conceptualizations of narcissism, age and gender differences are generalizable across the eight measures used in the present study. However, their size varied based on the instrument used. We discuss the sources of this heterogeneity and the potential mechanisms for age and gender differences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

كلمة العدد (الإنجليزي)

كلمة العدد (الإنجليزي)

NARCISSISM OF SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RELATION TO THEIR SELF-COMPASSION AND SOCIAL LOAFING

The study was conducted to explore the relationship of narcissism with social loafing and self-compassion.The study was conducted on 200 government school students.The Narcissism scale was developed by the researchers,Social Loafing Scale (SLS) by Q.G.Alam and Ramji Srivastava (2008) and Self-compassion Scale (SCS) by Kristin Neff (2003) were used to collect the data.The results revealed a no significant gender differences in narcissism of school students.But there were significant locale wise differences in narcissism among school students.It was also found that there is a significant positive relationship of narcissism with both self-compassion and social loafing.

Weiblicher Narzissmus – Zwischen Selbstzweifel und Grandiosität

Female narcissism describes the personality of women who have a wounded self-esteem and compensate for this with a perfect narcissistic facade. Through performance, attractiveness, perfectionism and conformity, they try to compensate for their insecurities and show the world an image of themselves that does not match their inner experience. They appear self-confident but feel insecure and full of self-doubt. Where so-called male narcissism is rooted in grandiosity, female narcissism is based on feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. The concept of female narcissism should not be misunderstood as discriminating against women through a gender-specific attribution. It merely serves to categorize the narcissistic expression as it is found mainly in women and less often in men. It emphasizes the importance of the vulnerable aspect of a narcissistic structure, which has been less the focus of scientific and therapeutic consideration than the grandiose. Although the women appear to have no problems in the therapy, seem to have everything under control, and perfectly conceal their suffering, they are to a great extent wounded in their self-esteem and in need of attention, support, and orientation. Under the protection of the therapeutic relationship they experience a new access to themselves, to their needs and feelings. In this way they overcome the narcissistic self-alienation and attachment disorder, which expresses itself on the one hand in fear of abandonment and on the other hand in fear of closeness. The goal of therapy is to overcome the opposites of their feelings and behavior and to access an expanded knowledge of themselves.

Exploring Age and Gender Differences in Narcissism and Perfectionism and Their Mental-Health Correlates

"The changes occurring in modern society can significantly influence individuals’ well-being, mental health and even personality traits such as narcissism and perfectionism. Since studies investigating age and gender differences in narcissism and perfectionism have produced mixed results, and the number of studies conducted in Romanian population is scarce, the main aims of this study were to investigate possible age and gender differences in narcissism, perfectionism and several mental-health indicators in a sample of healthy participants, as well as specific association patterns between these variables within each group of participants. Our sample included 465 millennials and 149 participants over 35 years of age. The results indicate that millennials reported significantly lower levels of narcissism and self-oriented perfectionism than the older generations, higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Female millennials reported lower levels of narcissistic traits and higher levels of socially-prescribed perfectionism, depressive symptoms, personal growth, and positive relations with others than male participants. Older females indicated significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness than male participants. Regarding association patterns, in the group of millennial women narcissism was positively correlated with self-oriented, socially-prescribed perfectionism and subjective well-being, and negatively with loneliness, environmental mastery and purpose in life. In millennial males, we found significant positive correlations only between narcissism and subjective well-being and environmental mastery. Our findings may have important implications for the literature regarding millennials and can contribute to the interventions and prevention programs designed to improve their well-being. Keywords: millennials, narcissism, perfectionism, mental health indicators, age and gender differences "

The Role of Gender in the Relationship Between Narcissism and Perfectionism in Hungarian Physical Education Students

"Literature indicates a strong relationship between narcissism and perfectionism, however, there is little information about this relationship in sports, and even less regarding the way gender affects this relationship. Our paper aims to answer the following questions, in a sample of 202 Hungarian physical education students: (i) are there gender differences in narcissism and perfectionism and how large are these differences?, (ii) how strong is the relationship between narcissism and perfectionism?, (iii) does this relationship vary as a function of perfectionism's components?, and (iv) are there any gender differences in the relationship between narcissism and perfectionism? Our results indicate that the male participants attained significantly higher levels of narcissism than the female participants. Furthermore, we found no significant gender differences in any of the three components of perfectionism a low to moderate association between narcissism and Self-oriented perfectionism and Other-oriented perfectionism, while on the entire sample, narcissism did not correlate with Socially-prescribed perfectionism. Analyzing this relationship separately in the two genders, our investigation indicates a moderate association between narcissism and all the three components of perfectionism only in the case of male participants, these relationships being non-significant for the female participants. These findings indicate that narcissism, in this specific population, is just one of the predictors of perfectionism (and maybe not even the most relevant one). We propose that future studies should focus on exploring other predictive factors of perfectionisms. Keywords: narcissism, perfectionism, gender, sports "

Inferring political and religious attitudes from composite faces perceived to be related to the dark triad personality traits

We used composite face images perceived to have different levels of Dark Triad personality traits (narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) and asked participants to predict these target individuals' religious and political identities. In Study 1 (N = 550), Turkish participants rated faces with higher levels of perceived Dark Triad traits as less likely to be religious, to believe in God, and more likely to be left-winger, and to vote for a left-leaning party in all categories except for male narcissism. In a pre-registered follow-up study (N = 1001), we recruited a nationally representative US sample and replicated the same results with minor differences regarding male and female narcissism, and voting preferences. Participants' own political and ideological identities and their stereotypical evaluation of the target groups were mostly ineffective in explaining their predictions. The results suggest that people can perceive faces with higher levels of Dark Triad traits as less religious and less conservative.

Female Narcissism: Assessment, Aetiology, and Behavioural Manifestations.

Despite putative gender differences in the expression of narcissism, prominent theories have virtually dismissed the role of females in the development and manifestation of narcissism. The contention that narcissism is a pathology of the self that may partly differ in males and females is further evident in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 reports that up to 75% of those diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) are men. Such figures suggest that the representation of narcissism as codified in the DSM-5 may only be marginally applicable to females, given its prominent focus and nature on capturing grandiose themes which closely resemble commonly masculine norms. The overemphasis on grandiose features extends to the empirical literature which defines narcissism as a normative personality trait and is widely assessed using the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), on which males obtain significantly higher scores than females. As this review will demonstrate, one limitation frequently occurring in the literature is the attempt to comprehend narcissistic manifestations in females through the lens of what has commonly been defined as narcissism (DSM/NPI). In this review, the literature concerning the diagnostic assessment and conceptualisation of narcissistic personality disorder, aetiological factors, aggression, and partner violence perpetration will be discussed in relation to the importance of gender. This is followed by a review of existing gaps in theory and research, and suggestions for fruitful directions that can aid a richer and more meaningful literature on narcissism inclusive of gender issues.

Unmasking gender differences in narcissism within intimate partner violence

Theoretical understanding of gender differences in narcissistic presentation is underdeveloped due to an overrepresentation of males in the narcissism literature. This study investigated gender differences in manifestations of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism within the context of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Participants (N = 328; 176 females) recruited from the normal population completed scales for grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, and physical/sexual and psychological abuse. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to investigate gender differences in narcissism and predictions for perpetration of IPV in each gender. Results showed that females scored significantly higher on vulnerable narcissism than males, but no gender differences were found for grandiose narcissism. In males, vulnerable narcissism was a significant positive predictor of physical/sexual abuse perpetration, and grandiose narcissism was a significant positive predictor of psychological abuse. For females, only vulnerable narcissism emerged as a significant positive predictor of physical/sexual and psychological abuse perpetration. Findings provide novel insights into how gender is expressed differently in the presentation of narcissism, and how these differences are related to partner violence outcomes. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are made.

TEORIJA ODRAZA: KAŽNJAVANJE ŽENSKOG NARCIZMA U TEKSTOVIMA LAVA NIKOLAJEVIČA TOLSTOJA

Even though Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy is mostly known as an opponent of (female) sexuality, this essay argues that female narcissism is an equally controversial category. As plots of three texts –the novellas “TheKreutzer Sonata” and “Family Happiness”,and the novel Anna Karenina –show, female characters have to convert ego-libido into object-libido in order to, while overcoming disappointment, reach Tolstoy’s idea of living for others. The first part of the essay is based on a close reading of Tolstoy’s novellas, and the second part examines the female characters of Anna Karenina. Instead of pointing out the differences between Kitty, Dolly and Ana, I am trying to foreground the ways in which they reflect each other, while linking Anna’s intertextual representations, two portraits, to Tolstoy’s remarks on the social functionof art. .

Perceptions of female narcissism in intimate partner violence: A thematic analysis

This study sought to explicitly investigate manifestations of female narcissism and their attempts at self-regulation in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). This novel phenomenon was explored through the lens of ex-partners’ perceptions of female narcissists. A qualitative approach using individual interviews was adopted to gain an in-depth insight of the subtleties and nuances of gender differences in narcissistic personality. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with ten male participants who reported having experienced an abusive relationship with a female narcissist. These interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Three overarching themes emerged from the data analysis: (i) dualistic personas of narcissism; (ii) the mask of femininity; and (iii) the hidden paradox of gender roles. Findings illustrated that perceived expressions of female narcissists depicted presentations of narcissistic vulnerability. Analysis also demonstrated that gender-related norms further shaped motives and self-regulatory strategies for females to obtain positions of power and control. These were established through adopting a ‘victim status’, playing the ‘mother card’ and using legal and societal benefits to their advantage. Female narcissists were perceived to employ strategic attempts at self-construction in sinister and abusive ways, governed by what society allows them to express. It is concluded that narcissism describes a phenomenon in females that moves beyond the overt grandiose stereotype. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Heroism and Comics Form: Feminist and Queer Speculations

Heroism and Comics Form: Feminist and Queer Speculations

“He bears no rival near the throne”: Male Narcissism and Early Feminism in the Works of Charlotte Dacre

For many critics, Charlotte Dacre is an essentially conservative author, whose female villains ventriloquize and thereby discredit early feminist thought. This essay disputes such readings by exploring her under-acknowledged criticisms of patriarchy. Dacre’s male characters are self-important narcissists, who disdain female education for the agency it gives women. If a woman is well-educated, she is less likely to submit, less likely to serve as an extension of her husband’s will alone. Patriarchy also encourages women to turn on one another, Dacre argues; her female villains uniformly value advancement among men over sisterhood, and they willingly destroy other women to attain their own ends. Dacre thus takes a pessimistic approach to women’s options at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Her female characters do not enjoy happy endings, regardless of marital status, level of education, or morality, because patriarchal systems are designed to crush women no matter how they behave. Far from mocking early feminism, then, Dacre criticizes it for being insufficiently radical in addressing problems with male behaviour.

Narcissism in Bulgarian adults

IntroductionNarcissistic personality disorder influences relationships and beliefs in different life spheres.ObjectiveWe aimed to measure narcissism among Bulgarian adults by establishing validity of two scales measuring narcissism, specifying some social and demographic factors and differentiating narcissistic features.MethodOne hundred and thirty-four Bulgarians (17–62 years old, M = 31; SD = 11) were examined with two scales measuring narcissism. Higher score on Narcissistic personality disorder scale from the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 correlated positively (r = .346; P < .001) with higher score on A. T. Beck and J. S. Beck's scale measuring Narcissistic beliefs from Personality Belief Questionnaire that indicated their validity.ResultsNo significant gender differences in narcissism were found, with female participants prevailing in the sample (n = 118). Family status (FPDQ−4(4,128) = 0.593; pPDQ-4 = 569; FPBQ(4,128) = 0.295; pPBQ = .881), occupational status – student, employed or unemployed (FPDQ−4(4,128) = 0.593; pPDQ−4 = .569; FPBQ(4,128) = 0.295; pPBQ = .881), secondary or university education (tPDQ−4(112) = 1.809; pPDQ−4 = .073; tPBQ(112) = 1.338; pPBQ = .184), and the length of work experience did not differentiate narcissism (RPDQ−4 = .168; tPDQ−4 = −1.853; pPDQ−4 = .066; RPBQ = .063; tPBQ = −0.681; pPBQ = .497). Advance in age was related to diminished levels of narcissism (RPDQ−4 = .21; R2PDQ−4 = .044; BPDQ−4 = −0.034; tPDQ−4 = −2.463; pPDQ−4 = .015). Higher narcissism was related to the belief of being a special person (70.8%) and to the perceptions of other people as being envy of one's personality–own achievements (60.9%).ConclusionsNarcissistic personality disorder is rare in the studied Bulgarian adult population – 4.5% of the subjects (n = 6) had the highest levels of narcissism on both scales that corresponded to the proportion of 6% prevalence of lifetime narcissism in USA, according to Stinson et al.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Entering adulthood in a recession tempers later narcissism – But only in men

In a recent study, Bianchi (2014) showed that macroeconomic conditions (i.e. average unemployment rate) during the years of emerging adulthood (ages 18–25) are inversely related to adult narcissism. Fletcher (2015) called into question the robustness of the results and Grijalva et al. (2015) presented meta-analytic support for real gender differences in narcissism. Here we report combined results from five studies (N=11,394) showing that the average unemployment rate during emerging adulthood indeed tempers later narcissism – but only in men.

Self-esteem mediates narcissism and aggression among women, but not men: A comparison of two theoretical models of narcissism among college students

Previous research has linked narcissism, self-esteem, and aggression. Two theoretical models have been advanced to explain these relationships: the psychodynamic mask model and the threatened egotism model, each with empirical support. Past research has found gender differences in narcissism, self-esteem, and aggression; however, little extant research into relationships between these variables has explored the role of gender. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of self-esteem between narcissism and aggression (physical aggression and verbal aggression) among U.S. college students and to explore whether these relationships varied between men and women. Results found support for the psychodynamic mask model, but only among women.