Narcissistic Isolation and Enmity Concept: Disentangling the Blue and Dark Face of Vulnerable Narcissism

Abstract.Narcissism is seen as a multidimensional construct that consists of two manifestations: grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. In order to define these two manifestations, their relationship to personality factors has increasingly become of interest. However, so far no studies have considered the relationship between different phenotypes of narcissism and personality factors in adolescents. Method: In a cross-sectional study, we examine a group of adolescents (n = 98; average age 16.77 years; 23.5 % female) with regard to the relationship between Big Five personality factors and pathological narcissism using self-report instruments. This group is compared to a group of young adults (n = 38; average age 19.69 years; 25.6 % female). Results: Grandiose narcissism is primarily related to low Agreeableness and Extraversion, vulnerable narcissism to Neuroticism. We do not find differences between adolescents and young adults concerning the relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and personality traits. Discussion: Vulnerable and grandiose narcissism can be well differentiated in adolescents, and the pattern does not show substantial differences compared to young adults.

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Distress Tolerance Moderates the Relationship Between Vulnerable Narcissism and Alcohol Problems

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e511252017-001 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Logan E. Welker ◽

Raluca M. Simons ◽

Rebecca E. Sistad ◽

Jeffrey S. Simons

Keyword(s):

Distress Tolerance ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Vulnerable Narcissism ◽

The Relationship

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How Downward and Upward Comparisons on Facebook Influence Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissists’ Self-Esteem—A Priming Study

Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.3390/bs11030039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

Phillip Ozimek ◽

Hans-Werner Bierhoff ◽

Elke Rohmann

Keyword(s):

Social Networking Sites ◽

Online Survey ◽

Social Comparisons ◽

Past Research ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Group ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Vulnerable Narcissism ◽

And Control

Past research showed that social networking sites represent perfect platforms to satisfy narcissistic needs. The present study aimed to investigate how grandiose (GN) and vulnerable narcissism (VN) as well as social comparisons are associated with Facebook activity, which was measured with a self-report on three activity dimensions: Acting, Impressing, and Watching. In addition, the state self-esteem (SSE) was measured with respect to performance, social behavior, and appearance. One hundred and ten participants completed an online survey containing measures of SSE and Facebook activity and a priming procedure with three experimental conditions embedded in a social media context (upward comparison, downward comparison, and control group). Results indicated, as expected, that high VN was negatively associated with SSE on each subscale and the overall score. In addition, it was found that VN, but not GN, displayed positive associations with frequency of Facebook activities. Finally, it was proposed and confirmed that VN in interaction with the priming of downward comparisons negatively affected SSE. The conclusion drawn is that VN represents a key variable for the prediction of self-esteem as well as for the frequency of Facebook activity.

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Vulnerable Narcissism in Social Networking Sites: The Role of Upward and Downward Social Comparisons

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.711909 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Fanchang Kong ◽

Meiru Wang ◽

Xingjie Zhang ◽

Xiaoyao Li ◽

Xiaojun Sun

Keyword(s):

Social Networking ◽

Social Networking Sites ◽

Social Comparisons ◽

Vital Role ◽

Media Effect ◽

Vulnerable Narcissism ◽

The Media ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Comparative Theory

Social networking sites (SNSs) have provided a new platform for people to present their narcissism. The objective of the current study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms between active and passive SNS use and vulnerable narcissism among college students. In achieving this, the study based its method on the media effect and social comparative theory and recruited 529 participants to complete the Surveillance Use Scale, Iowa–Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure, and Hypersensitivity Narcissistic Scale. The results showed that active and passive SNS use were positively related to upward and downward social comparisons. Active and passive SNS use also indirectly predicted vulnerable narcissism through the parallel mediation of upward and downward social comparisons. This study also revealed the vital role of social comparison in the association between SNS use and vulnerable narcissism.

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Are malignant self-regard and vulnerable narcissism different constructs?

Journal of Clinical Psychology ◽

10.1002/jclp.22599 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 (9) ◽

pp. 1556-1569 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Steven K. Huprich ◽

Sharon Nelson ◽

Aimee Sohnleitner ◽

Ketrin Lengu ◽

Sneha Shankar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vulnerable Narcissism

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Is narcissistic anger fueled by neuroticism? the relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, neuroticism, and trait anger

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-018-9866-y ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 1674-1681 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Oliwia Maciantowicz ◽

Marcin Zajenkowski

Keyword(s):

Trait Anger ◽

Vulnerable Narcissism ◽

The Relationship

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Narcissism_Overview_CDPS

10.31234/osf.io/qjz34 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Josh Miller ◽

Mitja Back ◽

Donald Lynam ◽

Aidan G.C. Wright

Keyword(s):

Self Esteem ◽

Public Research ◽

Factor Level ◽

Future Directions ◽

Vulnerable Narcissism ◽

Potential Fluctuations ◽

Current State ◽

Substantial Progress ◽

Lay Public ◽

Three Factor

Narcissism is of great interest to behavioral scientists and the lay public. Research across the last 20 years has led to substantial progress in the conceptualization, measurement, and study of narcissism. The present paper reviews the current state of the field, identifying recent advances and outlining future directions. Advances include hierarchical conceptualizations of narcissism across one (narcissism), two (grandiose vs. vulnerable narcissism), and three factor levels (agentic extraversion, antagonism, narcissistic neuroticism), the development of measures to assess the components of narcissism, clarification of the relations between narcissism and self-esteem, an understanding of the behavioral and motivational dynamics underlying narcissistic actions and social outcomes, and insight regarding potential fluctuations between narcissistic states. Future directions point in general to increased research using the lower levels of the narcissism hierarchy, especially the three-factor level. At this level, more research is required on the etiology, heritability, stability, and centrality of the three components.

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Proactive coping mediates the relationship between the narcissism phenotypes and psychological health

Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal ◽

10.2224/sbp.10477 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (7) ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Seungju Hyun ◽

Xyle Ku

Keyword(s):

Psychological Health ◽

Critical Role ◽

Proactive Coping ◽

Multiple Mediation ◽

Opposite Pattern ◽

Vulnerable Narcissism ◽

Mediating Role ◽

And Gender ◽

The Relationship

Although the relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and psychological health is widely accepted, little is known about whether and how coping strategies explain this relationship. We examined the mediating role of proactive coping in this relationship, with a sample of 280 participants from five colleges in Korea. We used four parallel multiple mediation models, and controlled for the indirect effects of coping flexibility, self-esteem, and covariates (age and gender). Results show that grandiose narcissism predicted higher life satisfaction and lower perceived stress, whereas vulnerable narcissism exhibited the opposite pattern, and all of these relationships were mediated by proactive coping. Overall, our results highlight the critical role of proactive coping in the prediction of psychological health among narcissists.

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