Pathological Narcissism Inventory Research Articles

Exploring Narcissism in Suicidal Ideation Using the Italian Version of the Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale.

Several theoretical and clinical observations lead to the hypothesis that pathological narcissism could be associated with suicide ideation due to the difficulty in regulating shame in a functional way. The present study investigated the roles of guilt, shame and rivalry in the relationship between pathological narcissism and suicidal ideation. A set of self-report questionnaires was completed by a sample of 936 Italian adults. These included the Italian version of the Guilt and Shame Proneness (GASP) scale, the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, and the Narcissism Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire. A structural equation model that tested the factorial structure of the GASP and its invariance produced satisfactory results. Moreover, shame was a significant factor in the relationship between narcissism grandiosity and suicidal ideation. However, beta regression coefficients were low. These findings suggest that despite clinicians should consider the presence of suicidal ideation in patients with pathological narcissism and their maladaptive regulation of shame, the relationship between these variables is complex and deserve further investigation.

Validation of the Super-Brief Pathological Narcissism Inventory (SB-PNI) among Swedish adolescents

AbstractThis study examines the psychometric structure and properties of the Swedish version of the Super-Brief Pathological Narcissism Inventory (SB-PNI) among adolescents. In order to ensure the validity and feasibility of the measure, we examined the factor structure, measurement invariance across gender, age and ethnicity, and construct validity in relation to a number of correlates of narcissism in adolescence. Data were drawn from a large cross-sectional survey conducted in 35 schools in southern Sweden. The sample consisted of N = 5313 adolescents (Mage = 16.10 SD = 1.55) with 52.2% girls, 45.9% boys and 1.8% adolescents with unspecified gender, from compulsory and upper secondary schools in southern Sweden. The results showed that the measure holds a two-factor structure, suggesting the use of the subscales grandiosity and vulnerability separately, rather than as a unidimensional measure. The correlated factors grandiosity and vulnerability yielded full configural and metric invariance across gender, age, and ethnicity. Both grandiosity and vulnerability were correlated with externalizing and internalizing symptoms, as well as with low self-esteem. The study provides evidence for the utility of the SB-PNI among Swedish adolescents and indicates that the measure can be used across male and female adolescents of different ages and ethnic groups.

Shame-proneness touches the relationship between pathological narcissism and suicide ideation

Suicidal ideation and behavior have a marked prevalence in several cluster B personality disorders (e.g., Borderline and narcissistic personality disorders according to the last versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders), compared to others. Intense feelings of shame can often be found in individuals with narcissistic personality disorder and may play a role in suicidal behavior. To explore the relationship between narcissism, shame and suicide ideation, Pathological Narcissism Inventory, Test of Self Conscious Affects and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation were administered to a sample of individuals with suicide ideation (N = 68; Mage=35,18, SD=15,62; 44,1 % males) and a sample of community participants (N = 153; Mage=27,41, SD=12,17; 41,2 % males). Controlling for age and gender, we found that Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation scores were significantly associated with narcissistic vulnerability and interpersonal shame. In the clinical sample, interpersonal shame partially mediated the relationship between the vulnerability facet of narcissism and suicidal ideation. Shame seems to have a crucial role in the relationship between the vulnerability facet of narcissism and suicidal ideation, although its complex influence remains to be understood. Clinicians may want to pay attention to intense shame feelings in individuals with vulnerable narcissism that may lead to decompensation and increase suicide risk.

How personality functioning relates to psychological distress and behavioral attitudes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Functional aspects of personality are crucial for experiencing and handling emotional distress. With the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus and the subsequent installation of mitigation rules of social distancing, severe psycho-social challenges were posed upon people. Research has shown that individuals react differently to these challenges. This study aimed to investigate the role of dimensional aspects of personality during the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, we examined how personality functioning, defense mechanisms, and narcissism were related to psychological distress and cognitive and behavioral attitudes towards the rules of social distancing. In a non-clinical sample (N = 254), Level of Personality Functioning Scale, Inventory of Personality Organization, Defense Style Questionnaire, Pathological Narcissism Inventory, and three single questions regarding emotional distress and behavioral attitudes towards the pandemic were used. Structural equation models with reference and residual factors were calculated. Impairments in personality functioning and vulnerable narcissism showed significant positive relationships, adaptive defense mechanisms significant negative relationships with psychological distress during the pandemic. Residual factors for aggression and low moral values showed distinct negative relationships with psychological distress related to social distancing. Amongindividualswho chose to ignore the rules of social distancing, greater impairment in personality organization was found. Personality functioning may elucidate individual differences in psychological distress and compliance with the mitigation rules during the pandemic. Limitations of measures are carefully considered in all interpretations.

Further basic evidence for the dark-ego-vehicle principle: Higher pathological narcissism is associated with greater involvement in feminist activism

According to the dark-ego-vehicle principle (DEVP), individuals with so-called dark personalities (e.g., individuals with high narcissistic traits) are attracted to political and social activism not for the achievement of prosocial goals but to repurpose the activism to satisfy their specific ego-focused needs. In this pre-registered study, we aimed at replicating and extending previous empirical evidence for the DEVP by examining the associations of pathological narcissism with involvement in feminist activism. A diverse US sample (N = 458) completed online measures of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory and several covariates (i.e., altruism, self-identification as a feminist, and age). Paralleling previous research, higher pathological narcissistic grandiosity was found to be statistically significantly related to greater involvement in feminist activism. Unexpectedly, gender did not moderate this relationship. Also, higher pathological narcissism was related to stronger self-identification as a feminist; however, pathological narcissistic grandiosity explained some variance in the involvement in feminist activism over and above feminist self-identification. In exploratory secondary analyses, we found that higher pathological narcissism was associated with specific feminist conversational interaction behaviors (e.g., correcting other’s non-feminist language). The limitations (e.g., the relevance of other dark personality traits beyond narcissism) and the theoretical implications for the DEVP are discussed. Overall, the findings of the present study are further support for the DEVP.

Companionship Of Psychological Hardiness, Narcissism, And Perfectionism On Depression Tendency Among Undergraduate Students In Oyo State, Nigeria

The aim of this study was to examine the companionship of psychological hardiness, narcissism, and perfectionism on depression tendency among undergraduate students in Oyo State, Nigeria. A qualitative research design by means of correlational approach was adopted to pilot the study. A total of one thousand and eighty-six (1086) participants selected through a process of stratified random sampling from Oyo State, Nigeria, partook in the study. Four measuring instruments: Depression Proneness Rating Scale-11 (α=.77), Dispositional Resilience Scale (α= .73), Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (α= .87), and Pathological Narcissism Inventory (α= .91) were used to garner data. Collected data were subjected to analysis through Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple regression model. Findings revealed that a combination of predictor variable accounted for 42% of the total variance in depression tendency (R2=.417; F (5,1080)= 154.768; p<.01). Independently, psychological hardiness (r=-. 404; β-.236; t= -9.486; p<.01), Normal Perfectionism (r= -.370; β= -.355; t=-12.530; p<.01), and narcissistic grandiosity (r= .238; β=-.213; t= -7.532) yielded anti correlational relationship with depression tendency. However, the relationships of Narcissistic Vulnerability (r=.282; β=286; t=9.866; p< .01) and neurotic perfectionism (r= .238; β=.278; 10.031; p<.01) with depression tendency yielded positive prediction. The study outcomes were discussed, and the studied variables were recommended to be considered while diagnosing depression symptoms among undergraduate students.

Structural connectivity of grandiose versus vulnerable narcissism as models of social dominance and subordination

Social dominance and subordination have been linked to fronto-limbic and fronto-thalamic networks and are related to phenotypes such as grandiose vs. vulnerable narcissistic traits. The latter have been linked to clinical features such as empathy and emotional regulation. In this study we tested the hypotheses that narcissistic traits are associated with white matter integrity in fasciculus uncinate, cingulum, and anterior thalamic radiation (ATR). We applied the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) to assess narcissistic traits in a sample of 267 psychiatrically healthy individuals. We used 3 T MRI to acquire Diffusion Tensor Imaging data for analysis with TBSS in FSL applying TFCE to test for correlations of fractional anisotropy (FA) and PNI scales. We detected a significant positive correlation of PNI total and FA in the right posterior cingulum. PNI Vulnerability was significantly correlated with FA in the left anterior and right posterior cingulum. We did not find overall correlations with PNI Grandiosity, but additional analyses showed significant effects with FA of ATR. Our results strengthen network models for narcissism underlying both personality variation and pathology. Especially associations of narcissistic vulnerability within fronto-limbic tracts suggest overlaps within neural correlates of related phenotypes like neuroticism, social subordination, and negative emotionality.

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).

Narcissistic traits and problematic internet use among youths: A latent change score model approach

Problematic Internet Use (PIU), characterized by excessive and impulsive online use, represents a social emergency that negatively affects adolescents' well-being. However, despite the evidence of an association between PIU and maladaptive personality traits, no study has prospectively investigated the relationship between narcissistic traits and PIU. We explored the longitudinal impact of grandiose (GN) and vulnerable narcissism (VN) on different dimensions of PIU at two-time points via a latent score approach. A sample of 154 adolescents (72 females; age range: 14–18 years; mean age: 16.06, SD = 1.11) completed the Pathological Narcissism Inventory and the Internet Addiction Test. Data revealed that a longitudinal increase of VN, but not GN, predicted a worsening in online management, personal well-being, and personal and interpersonal functioning. The findings highlighted the importance of tailored clinical interventions for PIU during this delicate developmental stage.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory-Short Form (FFNI-SF).

Objective: For a long time, it was held that narcissism had two aspects: narcissistic grandiosity and narcissistic fragility. The extraversion, neuroticism, and antagonism elements of the three-factor narcissism paradigm, on the other hand, have gained popularity in recent years. Based on the three-factor framework of narcissism, the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory-short form (FFNI-SF) is a relatively recent invention. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the FFNI-SF in Persian among Iranians. Method : Ten specialists (with Ph.D.s in psychology) were enlisted in this research to translate and evaluate the reliability of the Persian version of the FFNI-SF. The Content Validity Index (CVI) and the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) were then used to assess face and content validity. It was given to 430 students at Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, once the Persian form was completed. The available sampling technique was used to choose the participants. Cronbach's alpha and the test-retest correlation coefficient were used to assess the reliability of the FFNI-SF. In addition, concept validity was obtained using exploratory factor analysis. In addition, correlations with NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) were employed to establish the convergent validity of the FFNI-SF. Results: According to professional opinions, the face and content validity indices met expectations. With Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability, the questionnaire's reliability was also established. Cronbach's alphas varied between 0.7 and 0.83 for the FFNI-SF components. According to test-retest reliability coefficients, the components' values varied from 0.7 to 0.86. Additionally, three factors (extraversion, neuroticism, and antagonism) were recovered using the principal components approach and a straight oblimin rotation. According to an analysis of the eigenvalues, the three-factor solution accounted for 49.01 of the variation in the FFNI-SF. The eigenvalues for the three variables were 2.95 (M = 1.39), 2.51 (M = 1.3), and 1.88 (M = 1.24) respectively. The FFNI-SF Persian form's convergent validity was further verified by the association between its results and those from the NEO-FFI and PNI tests and the FFNI-SF. There was a substantial positive association between FFNI-SF Extraversion and NEO Extraversion (r = 0.51, P ≤ 0.001), as well as a strong negative correlation between FFNI-SF antagonism and NEO agreeableness (r = -0.59, P ≤ 0.001). As well as this, PNI grandiose narcissism (r = 0.37, P ≤ 0.001) was shown to be significantly associated with FFNI-SF grandiose narcissism (r = 0.48, P ≤ 0.001), as it was with PNI vulnerable narcissism (r = 0.48, P < 0.001). Conclusion: with its solid psychometric qualities, we may utilize the Persian FFNI-SF to test the three-factor model of narcissism as an effective tool for research.

Validation of the pathological narcissistic inventory (PNI) and its brief form (B-PNI) in the Arabic language

BackgroundThe Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) is a multidimensional measure developed to assess narcissistic grandiosity and narcissistic vulnerability. We aimed to validate the Arabic version of the original Pathological Narcissistic Inventory (PNI) and its brief form (B-PNI) in a community sample of Lebanese adults.MethodsThe English language PNI items were translated into Arabic following a rigorous translation, back-translation, and linguistic evaluation. A total of 401 participants were administered the translated PNI, as well as previously validated Arabic versions of the Big Five Inventory-2, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Impulsivity-8 Scale.ResultsExploratory and confirmatory analyses supported the existence of seven first-order and two second-order factors of the PNI and B-PNI. Except for exploitativeness where females scored lower than males, no other significant differences by gender were observed for the remaining PNI subscale scores. Additionally, scores on all the subscales exhibited good reliability, while the associations with external measures supported the concurrent validity of the translated instrument.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that scores on the PNI and B-PNI are highly reliable with satisfactory concurrent and factorial validity, providing an assessment of broadly defined pathological narcissism among the Lebanese young adult population. The availability of the Arabic PNI and its brief form should facilitate improved understanding of pathological narcissism in Arabic cultures and the different factors that govern narcissistic personality pathology.

A phenomenological approach to the affective core of Delusional Disorder.

Introduction According to current diagnostic systems, affective symptoms do not represent a fundamental criterion for the diagnosis of DD. However, numerous studies have highlighted frequent comorbidity between DD and Mood Disorders and have elucidated the importance of the affective state in the development and persistence of delusions. Thus, some factor analysis studies have identified the existence of a depressive dimension in DD, suggesting a substantial psychopathological heterogeneity in DD. However, these important affective features have not evaluated from a phenomenological point of view and in their relationship with delusions.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between personality, trait affectivity and severity of delusions in patients with Delusional Disorder (DD).MethodsThirty-two outpatients affected by DD were administered the Structured Interview for DSM-IV-TR Personality Disorders (SIDP-IV), the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (NPI), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale (PSYRATS). Next, we analysed the prevalence of personality disorder in our sample of patients with DD and studied the correlations between the severity of delusions and the different affective variables. Finally, we obtained a multivariate explanatory model of the severity of the delusions.ResultsThe severity of delusions was directly associated with “Grandiose Fantasy” item of narcissistic personality and inversely related with the feelings of shame, fear and guilt. In the multivariate model, the feeling of shame was the only independent variable capable of accounting for the severity of the delusions, that, in in DD patients, would lie on an affective core of shame.Table 2.Pearson correlation coefficientVARIABLESDRS total scoreGRANDIOSE FANTASYp = 0.045SHAMEp = 0.048GUILTp = 0.016AGITATIONp = 0.049FEARp = 0.041Table 3.Standardized coefficients in linear standard regression (DRS)DRS: total scoreR²βtpStep 10.157---GRANDIOSE FANTASY-0.3961.890.048Step 20.460---GRANDIOSE FANTASY-0.2911.650.116SHAME--0.560-3.170.005ConclusionsThe severity of delusional beliefs in DD patients would lie on an affective core of shame upon predisposing personality traits. These findings could help to develop a psychotherapeutic approach for delusional patients focused in the feeling of shame.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Effects of Personality Traits and Mentalization on Workplace Bullying Experiences among Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Aim. This study aimed to investigate the effects of intensive care unit nurses’ personality traits and mentalization on workplace bullying after controlling for organizational culture. Background. Nurses’ personality traits and mentalization may significantly influence workplace bullying. Methods. This cross-sectional study collected data from 416 nurses using an online survey in July 2022. Major variables were evaluated using the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, Perfectionistic Self-Presentation and Psychological Distress Scale, Short Dark Triad, Mentalization Scale, Positive Nursing Organizational Culture Measurement Tool, and the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised. . A multiple regression analysis was performed. Results. Narcissistic vulnerability, mentalization, and perfectionistic self-presentation significantly influence workplace bullying (victim aspect). Dark personality, mentalization, and perfectionistic self-presentation significantly influence workplace bullying (perpetrator aspect). Conclusions. Individual nurses could become either victims of bullying or perpetrators according to their personality traits. Therefore, it is necessary to determine their personality traits, so that they do not become influencing factors in workplace bullying. Implications for Nursing Management. Efforts at a nursing organization level are crucial to understand nurses’ personality traits, enhance their mentalization, minimize the manifestations of the negative aspects of their traits, and positively affect the prevention and alleviation of workplace bullying.

“It’s not you, it’s me”: identity disturbance as the main contributor to interpersonal problems in pathological narcissism

BackgroundCore impairments in self and other functioning typify individuals with personality disorder. While interpersonal dysfunction is a known element of narcissistic disorders, empirical research investigating intrapersonal elements is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the internal representations of individuals with grandiose and vulnerable features, as manifested through their attachment styles, and the specific role of identity disturbance in explaining the relationship between pathological narcissism and maladaptive interpersonal functioning.MethodsA sample of 270 university students completed the Brief Pathological Narcissism Inventory (B-PNI), the Severity Indices of Personality Problems (SIPP), the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32).ResultsBoth vulnerable and grandiose narcissism were positively associated with both fearful and preoccupied attachment, and negatively associated with secure attachment, whilst grandiose narcissism was also positively associated with dismissive attachment. Furthermore, unstable representations of self, poor self-reflective functioning, and low sense of purpose fully mediated the relationship between interpersonal problems and grandiose narcissism while partially mediating the relationship between interpersonal problems and vulnerable narcissism.ConclusionsOverall, our findings suggest that for individuals presenting with narcissistic features, capacity for adaptive interpersonal functioning is grounded by deficits in identity integration. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Pathological narcissism and sadistic personality: The role of rivalry and malicious envy

Despite a tight link has been hypothesized between sadistic and grandiose narcissism, to date, little is known about the variables accounting for such relationship. The aim of this contribution is to bridge such gap by investigating the topic among a very large sample of Italian adults. In addition, we aimed to contribute to advancing the field through the validation of the Italian version of the benign and malignant envy scale (I-BeMaS). We administrated self-report questionnaires evaluating sadistic personality (Assessment of Sadistic Personality; ASP), pathological narcissism (Pathological Narcissism Inventory), envy (I-BeMaS), as well as admiration and rivalry (Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire). Structural equation models were used to test the hypotheses. The I-BeMas showed the expected factorial structure, configural invariance across sex as well as scalar- and metric but not strict invariance. In addition, grandiose narcissism, narcissistic rivalry, and malicious envy positively and significantly predicted the ASP scores. Furthermore, rivalry and malicious envy both mediated the relationship between grandiose narcissism and sadism. Results are discussed in light of theoretical, empirical and clinical implications. The role of envy is stressed, underlying the need for further investigation of this variables, too overlooked in previous contributions.

The relationship between narcissism and creativity: A chain/serial mediation model

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between narcissism and creativity and the mediating mechanisms of motivation and grit. We used the Super Brief Pathological Narcissism Inventory (SB-PNI), the Behavioral Inhibition/Activation System Scale (BIS/BAS), the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S), and the Runco Ideational Behavior Scale (RIBS) to conduct a longitudinal survey of 455 college students. We hypothesized that grandiose narcissism could positively predict assimilation of information through the chain-mediated effects of approach motivation and perseverance of effort, while vulnerable narcissism could positively predict original interpretation through the chain-mediated effects of avoidance motivation and consistency of interest, and the results validated the proposed hypothesis, In addition, we also found unexpected chain-mediated pathways and discussed them. From this, we conclude that both grandiose/vulnerable narcissism positively predicted creativity, although there was a difference in the predicted creativity types, and the difference was related to the chain mediating effect of different motivation and grit; verifying that motivation and grit play a chain-mediated role in the effect of narcissism on creativity.

IS NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE IDEATION IN MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER MEN?

Abstract Older adults have high rates of suicide, necessitating theory and research on factors that contribute to suicide risk and may be targets for intervention. Clark (1993) theorized that age-related losses and transitions can trigger narcissistic injury in older men, and lead to mood decline, substance misuse, loss of insight, and suicide ideation and behavior. We tested elements of Clark’s model in a secondary analysis of a geriatric depression clinic database (n=574), and reported a positive association between clinician-diagnosed Narcissistic Personality (NP) and suicide ideation and behavior, controlling for depression severity (Heisel et al., 2007). We sought to replicate and extend these findings in 82 community-residing men, 55 years and older (M=63.3, SD=4.6), who participated in a trial of Meaning-Centered Men’s Group (MCMG; Heisel et al., 2020) for those concerned about or struggling with the transition to retirement. Participants completed the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (Pincus et al., 2009), Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale (Heisel &amp; Flett, 2006), and Geriatric Depression Scale (Yesavage et al., 1983). Linear regression analyses indicated a significant association between PNI-Contingent Self-Esteem and GSIS totals (t=2.41, p=.019) and GSIS Loss of Personal Worth (t=2.10, p=.040) and Perceived Meaning in Life Subscales (t=2.80, p=.007), controlling for depressive symptom severity (Geriatric Depression Scale; Yesavage et al., 1983), suggesting an association between suicide ideation and self-esteem issues. These and other findings will be discussed in a broader thematic context regarding masculinity, loss, life transitions, and suicide prevention.

Narcissism on interpersonal circumplex model: Reactions to imaginary abandonment and rejection.

Narcissism is a direct result of the lack of self-expression. Thus, this trait is enshrined in cycles of strategies to protect self-worth in interpersonal relationships. The aim of the present study was to understand in what way narcissistic individuals understand their interactions with themselves and others. The study included two groups comprising high grandiose narcissism (GN, n = 43) and high vulnerable narcissism (VN, n = 44). The participants who received scores that were one standard deviation (SD) above the mean, either on the PNI-grandiosity or on the PNI-vulnerable dimensions, constituted the GN and VN groups among 518 students (Age: M = 23.57, Sd = 2.13). The chi-square test was performed to evaluate the dimensions of narcissism with respect to responses of the participants and their partners (behavioral, cognitive, and emotional). The Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) was administered to evaluate narcissistic characteristics. The "Criticism Story" of the Story Completion Inventory in Romantic Relationships (SCIRR) was used for criticism. The circular pattern between the responses of the participants and their partners was examined using the Interpersonal Schemas Scale (ISS). The results revealed that the vulnerable group gave more complementary responses emotionally and made more complementary predictions in terms of the expected reactions from the romantic partner than the grandiose group. The results were discussed in reference to the basic self-esteem-protecting motivations of the groups.

The Anti-Mattering Scale Versus the General Mattering Scale in Pathological Narcissism: How an Excessive Need to Matter Informs the Narcissism and Mattering Constructs

The current study uniquely examines mattering and narcissism and reflects our contention that pathological narcissism involves an excessive need to matter and a hypersensitivity to being devalued and not mattering to other people. Specifically, we evaluated the proposed association between pathological narcissism and deficits in mattering by comparing the results obtained with the Anti-Mattering Scale and the General Mattering Scale. We also evaluated anti-mattering as a potential mediator of the link between narcissism and distress. A sample of 168 university students completed the Anti-Mattering Scale, the General Mattering Scale, the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, and a depression measure. Results confirmed that elevated scores on the Anti-Mattering Scale are associated with grandiose and vulnerable narcissism as well as depression. Mattering assessed by the General Mattering Scale had a weaker association with narcissism, thus highlighting the distinction between the Anti-Mattering Scale and the General Mattering Scale. Further analyses suggested that elevated Anti-Mattering Scale scores did indeed mediate the link between vulnerable narcissism and depression in keeping with anti-mattering as a factor that elicits the vulnerability of narcissists. Our findings attest to the uniqueness of the Anti-Mattering Scale and illustrate the need to consider the role of feelings of not mattering as a contributor to the self and identity issues and interpersonal sensitivity that contribute to pathological narcissism. This work also suggests the need to emphasize an excessive need to matter when assessing the self and when developing future measures of the need to matter.

Momentarily narcissistic? Development of a short, state version of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory applicable in momentary assessment.

Narcissism viewed as a personality process rather than a stable trait explains narcissistic functioning as a tool for maintaining a positive self-view. Studying narcissism therefore needs adequate momentary measures for collecting higher frequency longitudinal data in experience sampling method (ESM) studies. In this study, a shorter version of the Pathological Narcisissm Inventory is offered to measure vulnerable and grandiose narcissistic states, applicable in momentary assessment. The measurement tool was tested in three samples. First, we assessed the factor structure and associations with other contemporary measures of narcissism in a cross-sectional design on one English speaking (n = 319) and one Hungarian sample (n = 236). Second, we conducted a five-day long experience sampling method study with a total of 15 measurement points (n = 123). Based on structural equation modelling and multilevel analyses, the results suggest that the measure has adequate psychometric properties in both the within and between subject levels as well as acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. The Pathological Narcissism Inventory - State Version (PNI-S) can be a useful tool in momentary data collection enabling the examination of personality processes behind narcissistic functioning.