The psychological mechanisms that potentially underlie the negative correlation between narcissism and relationship satisfaction are unknown. This study examined the potential mediating role of ...perfectionistic self-presentation in the association between grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits and relationship satisfaction. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model was used to examine these associations in 344 nonclinical heterosexual couples. Mediated actor effects of men’s grandiose narcissism (GN) on their own relationship satisfaction emerged as well as direct effects of women’s vulnerable narcissism (VN) on their own satisfaction. Women’s relationship satisfaction was influenced by their male partner’s VN. Male partners of women high in GN reported lower relationship satisfaction. The results uniquely illustrate how narcissism focused on a need to seem perfect can undermine relationship satisfaction.
Narcissism and gratitude seem to be opposing constructs; however, their relationship is intricate due to their multidimensional nature. In the current study (N = 462) we examined the associations ...between narcissistic personality traits (that is, agentic, antagonistic, neurotic and communal types) and gratitude (conceived as a sense of abundance, simple appreciation, and appreciation of others). We found that antagonistic narcissism had large negative associations with each aspect of gratitude, whereas the other narcissistic personality traits had less consistent associations with the aspects of gratitude. Agentic and communal narcissism were positively associated with a sense of abundance and simple appreciation, whereas neurotic narcissism was negatively associated with a sense of abundance. The obtained results support the concept that narcissism is a complex and heterogeneous construct as its traits show both positive and negative associations with aspects of gratitude.
Narcissism is a multifaceted construct commonly conceptualized as comprising grandiose and vulnerable aspects in a two-factor model. While the manifold correlates of these aspects imposed a challenge ...for research on the structure of narcissism, recent models converge in a three-factor structure of agentic-extraverted, antagonistic, and neurotic aspects, capturing variance in different conceptualizations and correlates of narcissism. We construct and validate a German adaptation of the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory (FFNI), a measure assessing these aspects based on the Five-Factor Model. In eight samples (N = 2,921), we found the German FFNI to align with both, two- and three-factor models. The factors display good criterion validity with other narcissism measures, (non-)clinical personality dimensions, interpersonal styles, and (mal-)adaptive adjustment. Neurotic and antagonistic narcissism discriminated between individuals with/without mental disorder diagnoses, and displayed a characteristic profile in incarcerated offenders. Since the FFNI is comprehensive but long, we constructed a 30-item brief form (FFNI-BF) optimizing the internal structure and external validity using ant colony optimization. The FFNI-BF displayed good psychometric characteristics and similar, in certain aspects even advantageous criterion validity. We conclude that the German FFNI validly measures key aspects of narcissism, and the FFNI-BF captures these in a concise manner.
In Search of Narcissus Sedikides, Constantine
Trends in cognitive sciences,
January 2021, 2021-01-00, 20210101, Volume:
25, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Narcissism, a trait reflecting egocentric exceptionalism and social selfishness, has captured scholarly interest due to its intricate composition and social implications. The construct is polyhedric, ...comprising several key forms: grandiose versus vulnerable, agentic versus communal, admirative versus rivalrous, collective versus individual. These forms can be integrated into structural models that add predictive power or process models that add explanatory power. The narcissistic nucleus is argued, and partly shown, to be brittle in the face of self-threat. The nucleus may derive from being overvalued, or inconsistently socialised, by parents. Narcissism entails intrapersonal benefits, as it can confer psychological health, buffer against adversity, and facilitate performance. But it can also be an interpersonal and societal liability, partly remediable with narcissism-reduction interventions.
Narcissism is a polyhedric construct. It assumes different forms: grandiose versus vulnerable, agentic versus communal, admirative versus rivalrous, collective versus individual. These predict unique outcomes, but can be integrated under structural models that contribute predictive power or process models that contribute explanatory power.The narcissistic nucleus may be unstable, especially for some forms (vulnerable, collective).Parental overvaluation may predict grandiose narcissism, although the role of parental inconsistency in predicting other forms of narcissism (e.g., vulnerable) is worth investigating.Narcissism may entail some intrapersonal benefits for narcissists (especially grandiose ones), such as psychological health, serving as a buffer against adversity, and motivating better performance.Given that narcissism entails interpersonal and social costs, laboratory techniques have addressed ways to curtail it, although long-term and behaviour-oriented interventions are needed.
PDF
