Narcissistic Individuals Research Articles

Moral Antecedents of Status Self-Misperceptions

Recent research has shown that individuals’ self-perceptions of status can, and perhaps often, diverge from their actual status socially conferred by their groups. Status self-misperceptions, especially in the form of self-enhancement, furthermore, can evoke important consequences for individuals and groups, such as reduced efforts and task performance. Yet, it remains unclear what causes people to misperceive their own status in the group, despite a potential price in losing social acceptance and affection. Drawing on recent development in status and morality research, we theorize an individual’s symbolic moral characteristics (e.g., identities and behaviors) as a crucial antecedent of status self-misperceptions, and the individual’s narcissistic personality as a moderator. Based on a multi-source survey on student friendship dyads, we find that symbolic moral identity, but not internalized moral identity, can indeed evoke status self-misperceptions, mainly in the form of self- enhancement. We, moreover, find that narcissistic individuals with high symbolic moral identity are most likely to have overly positive status self-perceptions, lending initial support to our theory.

Do Narcissists Self-Enhance? Disentangling the Associations Between Narcissism and Positive Versus Enhanced Self-Views Across Aspects of Narcissism, Content Domains, and Comparison Criteria

Across psychological disciplines, grandiose narcissism and self-enhancement have been treated as two closely related constructs. However, empirical research has not yielded conclusive insights about their association: It is currently unclear whether self-views of narcissistic individuals are more enhanced, in comparison with some criterion value, or whether their self-views are simply more positive than those of less narcissistic individuals. We aimed to clarify this fundamental issue with regard to (a) different aspects of narcissism (narcissistic admiration and rivalry), (b) different content domains of self-views (agency and communion), and (c) different criteria against which self-perceptions were compared (reputations, perceptions of others, and objective criteria). We used data from two multimethodological studies (N = 420) and applied condition-based regression analyses, a statistical approach that is suitable for differentiating between self-enhancement and the mere positivity of self-views. Results contradicted general claims of narcissism as the “self-enhancer personality” and highlighted more specific patterns of narcissistic self-evaluations.

Narcissism and mate retention behaviors: What strategies do narcissistic individuals use to maintain their romantic relationships?

The present studies examined the possibility that narcissistic admiration (assertive self-enhancement and self-promotion) and narcissistic rivalry (self-protection and self-defense) would have divergent associations with benefit-provisioning and cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors. Study 1 ( N = 625) revealed that narcissistic admiration was associated with benefit-provisioning behaviors, whereas narcissistic rivalry was associated with cost-inflicting behaviors. Study 2 ( N = 349) showed that narcissistic admiration was positively associated with cost-inflicting behaviors when levels of suspicious jealousy were relatively high. Study 3 ( N = 373) revealed that both narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry had positive indirect associations with cost-inflicting behaviors through the dominance-based orientation toward status. However, these aspects of narcissism had divergent indirect associations with cost-inflicting behaviors through the prestige-based orientation such that this indirect association was negative for narcissistic admiration but positive for narcissistic rivalry. These results demonstrate the similarities and important differences between narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry with regard to the use of particular mate retention behaviors.

Hunting lovers: Narcissists keep trophies from their past relationships

The common psychological core in grandiose and vulnerable narcissism is a sense of oneself being special and better than others. It has been shown that this need may be satisfied through relationships with attractive and successful partners. We propose that after dissolving romantic relationships, both grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic individuals may want to keep inanimate objects associated with their ex-partners as symbols of their mating success (i.e., trophies). Consistent with this hypothesis, the results of two cross-sectional correlational studies (N = 330 and N = 414) showed that while grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are not related to the nostalgic value of keepsakes from past relationships, they predict the perception of these objects as trophies. The effect holds when controlled for gender and self-esteem. We further discuss the mechanism by which “trophy keepsakes” may bolster positive self-views in both grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic individuals.

Narcissism and Quality of Life

Pathological narcissism is associated with decreased quality of life, even when accounting for psychiatric comorbidity, but the processes behind this association are unclear. Here, we evaluate whether disturbed relatedness accounts for the negative association between narcissistic pathology and quality of life. Patients in day hospital treatment for personality pathology (N = 218, 70% female; mean age, 37.3 years) completed measures of personality disorder features, quality of life, and global symptoms before beginning treatment. Quality of object relations was assessed through semistructured interviews. Regression-based mediation analyses showed that narcissistic personality traits relate to quality of life through quality of object relations, controlling for other personality disorders and psychiatric distress. These results highlight the importance of problematic relationship patterns for the low quality of life associated with pathological narcissism. Clinicians working with narcissistic individuals should consider psychotherapies that promote mature relatedness and should attend to facilitating the quality of patients' relationships.

The relationship between narcissism, intensity of Facebook use, Facebook flow and Facebook addiction

IntroductionThe present study investigated mechanisms that may contribute to the enhanced risk of narcissistic individuals to develop Facebook addiction. MethodsIn a sample of 449 Facebook users (age: M(SD) = 31.07(9.52), range: 18–65) the personality trait narcissism, Facebook flow, intensity of Facebook use, and Facebook addiction were assessed by an online survey. ResultsIn a moderated mediation analysis, the positive relationship between narcissism and Facebook addiction was positively mediated by the level of flow experienced on Facebook. Intensity of Facebook use moderated the positive association between Facebook flow and Facebook addiction. ConclusionsExcessive Facebook use may cause psychological dependence. Narcissistic individuals are at enhanced risk for this form of dependence that is fostered by experience of flow during Facebook use and intensity of Facebook use. Current results should be taken into account, when assessing individuals at risk for pathological Facebook use and when planning specific interventions to deal with it.

The assessment of the relationship between narcissism, perceived parental rearing styles, and defense mechanisms

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, perceived parental rearing styles and defense mechanisms. Besides, it was investigated how grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism scores differ in terms of demographic variables such as gender and age. Method: The study was carried out with 508 participants between the ages of 18-65 determined by the appropriate sampling method. 271 of the participants were female (53.3%), 237 of them were male (46.7%). The data were collected through a battery including Demographic Information Form, Pathological Narcissism Inventory, Narcissistic Personality Inventory-16, Abbreviated Perceived Parental Attitudes Scale-Child Form, Defense Style Questionnaire-40, and Splitting Scale. Results: Statistical analyses revealed that while there was no significant difference in vulnerable narcissism scores between male and female participants, male participants had significantly higher scores in grandiose narcissism. The findings indicate a decrease in both vulnerable and grandiose narcissism as the age of the participants increase. The regression analyses showed that grandiose narcissism scores were predicted by the paternal rejection and the maternal emotional warmth as perceived parental attitudes, and by the immature defense style, splitting defense mechanism, and neurotic defense style as defense styles; vulnerable narcissism scores were predicted by the paternal rejection, maternal overprotection, splitting defense, and all forms of defense. Conclusion: Findings that narcissistic personality may be correlated with some inadequate parental attitudes and more frequent use of defense mechanisms were discussed within the framework of this topic. In addition, the results were elaborated regarding the theoretical framework of narcissism, and how it can be used in clinical practice with narcissistic individuals.

Liderlikte İşlev Dışı Davranış Örüntüleri ve Patolojik Narsisizm: Psikanalitik Kuram Temelli bir Değerlendirme

Narcissism, which is known as a type of personality structure in psychology and management sciences literature, is divided into two groups - normal and pathological level and has an important place in psychoanalytic literature. It is known that Freud, one of the earliest psychoanalytic theorists, and Object Relations and Self Theory from psychoanalytic theories provide the greatest contribution to understanding narcissism. Object Relations and Self Theories provide an important tool for understanding the inner world and the interpersonal relations of the narcissistic individual. In recent years, it has been observed that national and international studies on the effects of narcissism in organizations have increased. It is seen that narcissism is considered as a scientific and social concept and many theoretical and empirical studies have been performed. The topic of narcissism in leadership has attracted the attention of researchers from different fields such as business management, psychology and political science, and studies have been carried out to reveal the factors that constitute the dark side of leadership. In particular, the effects of leadership with pathological narcissistic symptoms on the quality of work life and organizational results have been the subject of many studies. In this study, the concept of narcissism is evaluated in the development process from the first day of its emergence to the present and a psychoanalytic based perspective is presented in explaining narcissistic leadership as a dysfunction. The review of theoretical and empirical research on pathological narcissism in leadership has been evaluated with its implications in the organizational context. It is thought that this study may have theoretical and practical contributions to the definition of behavioral disorders such as pathological narcissism, organizational intervention, improvement, counseling and change. 

The Relation Between Narcissistic Personality Traits and Accurate Identification of, and Preference for, Facially Communicated Narcissism

When evaluating someone as a potential social acquaintance, people prefer affiliative, pleasant individuals. This necessitates the evolution of perceptual acuity in distinguishing between genuinely prosocial traits and those connoting exploitative intentions. Such intentions can be readily inferred through facial structures connoting personality, even in the absence of other diagnostic cues. We sought to explore how self-reported narcissism, a personality constellation associated with inflated self-views and exploitative intentions, might facilitate one’s ability to detect narcissism in others’ faces as means of identifying social targets who could best satisfy potential exploitative goals. Participants viewed pairs of male and female targets manipulated to connote high and low levels of narcissism before identifying which appeared more narcissistic and indicating their preference among each pair. Narcissistic individuals were no better at accurately identifying other narcissists, but such individuals demonstrated considerable aversion to narcissistic faces. Women higher in exploitative narcissism additionally preferred narcissistic female faces, while men high in exploitative narcissism demonstrated similar patterns of aversion toward narcissistic male faces. Findings provide evidence that narcissistic individuals may adaptively avoid those whom they identify as having similar exploitative behavior repertoire, though when considering the exploitive dimension of narcissism specifically, sex differences emerged.

The effect of narcissistic admiration and rivalry on speaking performance

ObjectiveA narcissistic individual can seek to maintain his/her grandiose self-view through different processes associated with assertive self-enhancement (narcissistic admiration) or antagonistic self-protection (narcissistic rivalry). Here, we examine how admiration and rivalry affect anxiety and performance in a speaking task. Because the behaviours associated with narcissistic rivalry are motivated by ego threat, we further examined the moderating effect of self-affirmation, a process designed to reduce ego threat, on performance. MethodWe assigned 90 Thai students to a self-affirmation or control group and asked them to deliver a short speech. We assessed speech performance through self-report and observer ratings, and state anxiety using self-report. ResultsNarcissistic admiration was adaptive for speech performance and predicted higher self and observer-rated speech performance and lower anxiety. In contrast, narcissistic rivalry was associated with greater anxiety but was unrelated to speech performance. Self-affirmation moderated the effect of narcissistic rivalry on self-rated speech performance but in an unexpected direction such that rivalry was negatively related to speech performance following self-affirmation. ConclusionThese results add to the developing literature on the behavioural correlates of narcissistic admiration and rivalry, with admiration reflecting the more socially adaptive component of grandiose narcissism.

Beyond Narcissism: Towards an Analysis of the Public, Political and Collective Forms of Contemporary Spirituality

Holistic spirituality has often been characterized by academic literature as belonging to the private sphere, articulated through the market and anchored in the growth of narcissistic individualism. However, recent empirical evidence and theoretical developments suggest a more complex picture. Drawing on the analysis and comparison of two empirical cases—the organization of collective meditations in public spaces and the teaching of yoga in prisons by holistic volunteers —we explore the rise of social engagement initiatives, aiming to transform society through the promotion and use of holistic techniques. Our main conclusions revolve around four main issues (a) the move of holistic spirituality from the private to the public sphere and the increasing public resonance with (and acceptance of) the contemporary holistic milieu, (b) the emergence of an holistic imaginary of social change anchored in ethics of reciprocity and responsibility, (c) the role of the body as a central locus of resistance and social transformation and (d) the articulation of new forms of individualism that enable to make self-realization compatible with social and political commitment.

The effect of narcissism and neuroticism on physical education and sports teacher candidates of real and self-estimated exam grades

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the joint effect of narcissism and neuroticism on physical education teacher candidates’ real and self-estimated exam grades. Methods: The sample included 60 (20 female) first-year physical education teacher candidates. Before the educational psychology visa exam, participants completed measures of narcissism and neuroticism. Immediately after the exam, participants reported their expected exam grades. Results: Results of the correlation analysis indicated that narcissism was positively and significantly associated with the deviation of the self-estimated exam grade from the real exam grade, which means that narcissistic individuals may tend to overestimate their exam grades. Regression analyses also confirmed that narcissism is a significant predictor of the deviation of the self-estimated exam grade from the real exam grade. A two-way analysis of variance further demonstrated that narcissistic individuals self-estimated exam grades showed a higher deviation from the real exam grades than their non-narcissistic counterparts. Conclusion: Narcissistic individuals may have a predisposition to overestimate their exam grades.

How do narcissists perceive personality items? Measurement invariance of a Big Five scale across low and high narcissism groups

Two forms of narcissism were found to be associated with various personality traits. Grandiose narcissism typically correlates with high levels of extraversion, openness and emotional stability, whereas vulnerable narcissism correlates positively with neuroticism and negatively with extraversion. Both types of narcissism are associated with disagreeableness. Studies revealed that narcissists, at least grandiose ones, exhibit distorted self-views. Thus, a question about potential response bias of narcissistic individuals on self-report measures seems relevant. The current study assessed measurement invariance in the five-factor model scale across groups with low and high narcissism, separately for vulnerable and grandiose type. From a larger sample (n = 755) extreme groups were selected basing on the respective narcissism scale. The results indicated that the Big Five questionnaire was measurement invariant across narcissism groups with respect to configural and metric equivalence; however, it showed a lack of scalar (intercept) invariance. Individuals scoring high on grandiose narcissism exhibited higher thresholds on extraversion, emotional stability, conscientiousness and intellect in comparison to people with a low level of grandiose narcissism. Individuals with a high level of vulnerable narcissism obtained lower intercepts on all scales, besides intellect, in comparison to individuals low in vulnerable narcissism.

Narcissism and respect in romantic relationships

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present research was to investigate the connections that narcissistic admiration (i.e., assertive self-enhancement) and narcissistic rivalry (i.e., antagonistic self-protection) had with respect in romantic relationships. The results of Study 1 (N= 432) revealed that narcissistic admiration was positively associated with perceived respect from partner and respect toward partner, whereas narcissistic rivalry was negatively associated with perceived respect from partner and respect toward partner. In addition, individuals with high levels of narcissistic admiration reported low levels of romantic relationship functioning when they perceived low levels of respect from their current partner. The results of Study 2 (N= 334 [167 romantic dyads]) revealed that the narcissistic admiration of women was positively associated with their perceptions of respect from their male partners as well as the actual levels of respect they received. In contrast, narcissistic rivalry was negatively associated with the actual levels of respect that men and women received from their partners as well as the levels of respect their partners perceived from them. Discussion focuses on the implications that respect may have for the romantic relationships of narcissistic individuals.

Narcissism and romantic commitment: The role of attitudes toward alternative romantic partners

ABSTRACT The present research examined the connections that narcissism had with attitudes toward alternative romantic partners and romantic commitment. Across four studies, we examined whether narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry had indirect associations with commitment through attitudes toward alternative romantic partners. Results revealed that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry differed in their associations with romantic commitment but had similar associations with the willingness to consider alternative romantic partners and these attitudes toward alternative partners provided at least a partial explanation for the low levels of commitment that often characterize narcissistic individuals. Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for understanding the role that attitudes toward alternative partners play in the connections that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry have with romantic commitment.

Grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic states in interpersonal situations

ABSTRACT Clinicians have noted that narcissistic individuals fluctuate in levels of grandiosity and vulnerability. The present study is the first to examine narcissistic states assessed during interpersonal situations. Perceptions of others’ warmth and dominance, momentary grandiosity and vulnerability, and one’s own warm and dominant behavior were assessed across situations in daily life (person N = 286; occasion N = 6,837). Results revealed that more grandiose individuals perceived others as colder and behaved more dominant and colder, on average. But in the moment, higher grandiosity was associated with perceiving others as warmer and more submissive, resulting in more dominant and warm behavior. Trait vulnerability was associated with perceptions of coldness and cold behavior, and this was amplified in the moment.

Narcissism and romantic relationship presentation on social media: The role of motivations and partner attractiveness

Two studies assessed the associations that narcissistic admiration (an agentic form of narcissism characterized by assertive self-enhancement and self-promotion) and narcissistic rivalry (an antagonistic form of narcissism characterized by self-protection and self-defense) have with self-enhancing and communal motivations for sharing romantic relationship information on social media, and how the partner's physical attractiveness relates to the likelihood of sharing this information. In Study 1, 248 participants reported on their actual relationships. In Study 2, 423 participants evaluated hypothetical partners whose physical attractiveness was experimentally manipulated. In both studies, narcissistic rivalry was associated with greater self-enhancing motivations. In Study 1, narcissistic admiration was associated with greater self-enhancing and communal motivations for sharing the relationship. In both studies, narcissistic individuals were not more likely to share their relationships if their partners were physically attractive. Study 2 provided some evidence that both narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry were associated with a preference for sharing sexy photographs of one's partner, depending upon the operationalization of the preference.

I present myself and have a lot of Facebook-friends – Am I a happy narcissist!?

For many people, Facebook use has become part of daily life. Earlier research hypothesized that one reason for the high popularity of this social platform is its association with subjective well-being and specific personality traits. In the present study, self-report data and objective data from Facebook pages of 328 Facebook users were analyzed. Results revealed a significant positive association of active Facebook use with subjective happiness and narcissism. Its relationship with depression symptoms was significantly negative. Furthermore, active Facebook use significantly positively mediated the positive link between narcissism and happiness. This finding contributes to the understanding why narcissistic individuals who usually search for attention and admiration to increase their self-esteem often engage in intensive active Facebook use.

An interactive model of narcissism, self-esteem, and provocation extent on aggression

To address gaps in understanding how narcissism and self-esteem influence aggression under low and high provocation, participants (N = 401) read vignettes depicting low or high levels of provocation and then indicated their aggression, negative emotionality, appraisals of the situation, and goals. As anticipated, at high vs. low self-esteem, narcissism related more weakly to aggression and hostile goals. These interactive effects of narcissism and self-esteem were present under conditions of low and high provocation, but they were generally accentuated under low-provocation conditions. Relations between narcissism and indicators of ego-threat (e.g., negative emotionality, ego-threatening appraisals, self-defense goals) were generally not modified by self-esteem. We surmised that self-esteem reduces tendencies for narcissistic individuals to activate hostile goals when provoked. Broadly, the findings are consistent with the presumption that self-esteem reduces narcissistic antagonism, and they present a novel and nuanced understanding of how self-evaluation constructs relate to provoked aggression.

Swiping away the moments that make up a dull day: Narcissism, boredom, and compulsive smartphone use

Research has shown a relationship between two types of narcissism (grandiose and vulnerable) and social media use, often in the context of using smartphones. This work has also provided evidence that narcissistic individuals might be more prone to feelings of boredom. However, few studies have tested the association between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and smartphone use. In the present study, it was hypothesized that both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism would be associated with greater compulsive smartphone use. Further, it was hypothesized that experiencing boredom might partially explain this association. Based on self-report data from late adolescents and early adults (N = 532), findings from structural equation modeling showed that grandiose narcissism was positively associated with compulsive smartphone use, while the effect of vulnerable narcissism was fully mediated by boredom. Both types of narcissism and boredom explained 28.5% of variance in compulsive smartphone use. Findings provide novel insights into the link between narcissism, boredom, and the compulsive use of smartphones, with differential effects for grandiose versus vulnerable narcissism.