The Mediating Role of Perfectionism and Defense Mechanisms in The Relationship between Personality Traits and Narcissism

In this study, it is aimed to examine the relationships between perfectionism, defense mechanisms and basic personality traits and vulnerable and grandiose narcissism. Besides, it is aimed to determine the mediating role of defense mechanisms and perfectionism in the relationship between basic personality traits and vulnerable and grandiose narcissism. The sample of the study consists of 403 volunteer participants whose ages are between 18-60. In this study, data were collected by using Demographic Information Form, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), Defense Style Questionnaire-40 (DSQ-40), Basic Personality Traits Inventory (BPTI), and Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory-Short Form (FFNI). Among the continuous variables of the study, it was identified that there were correlations ranging from .09 to .50. In addition, according to the mediation (mediator) analysis results, it was revealed that the immature defense group and concern over mistakes had mediation role in the relationship between negative valence, which is one of the basic personality traits and grandiose narcissism; immature defense group and personal standards had mediation role in the relationship between openness to development and grandiose narcissism. Also, it was found that the immature defense group and concern over mistakes had mediation role in the relationship between negative valence and vulnerable narcissism; the immature defense group, concern over mistakes and doubt about actions had mediation role in the relationship between neuroticism and vulnerable narcissism. It has been observed that total four significant models explain 30% to 38% of the variance. In the light of the current results, the evaluation of some personality traits associated with vulnerable and grandiose narcissism and the effect of immatur defenses and perfectionism in this relationship may contribute positively to the understanding and treatment process of narcissistic personal traits. Keywords Grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism, basic personality traits, perfectionism, defense mechanisms

Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, identity integration and self-control related to criminal behavior

Background Although systematic research on narcissism has been conducted for over 100 years, researchers have only recently started to distinguish between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in relation to criminal behavior. In addition, there is some evidence suggesting that identity integration and self-control may underlie this association. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop a theory-driven hypothetical model that investigates the complex associations between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, identity integration, self-control, and criminal behavior using structural equation modeling (SEM). Methods The total sample (N = 222) included 65 (29.3%) individuals convicted of criminal behavior and 157 (70.7%) participants from the community, with a mean age of 37.71 years (SD = 13.25). Criminal behavior was a grouping variable used as a categorical outcome, whereas self-report questionnaires were used to assess grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, self-control, and identity integration. Results The overall SEM model yielded good fit indices. Grandiose narcissism negatively predicted criminal behavior above and beyond the influence of identity integration and self-control. In contrast, vulnerable narcissism did not have a direct significant effect on criminal behavior, but it was indirectly and positively associated with criminal behavior via identity integration and self-control. Moreover, grandiose narcissism was positively, whereas vulnerable narcissism was negatively associated with identity integration. However, identity integration did not have a direct significant effect on criminal behavior, but it was indirectly and negatively associated with criminal behavior via self-control. Finally, self-control was, in turn, negatively related to criminal behavior. Conclusions We propose that both subtypes of narcissism should be carefully considered in clinical assessment and current intervention practices.

The Narcissistic Grandiosity Scale; Psychometric Evaluation of the Iranian Version

Narcissistic Grandiosity Scale (NGS) measures within-person dynamics of grandiose narcissism in both trait- and state-level and makes it possible to evaluate the grandiosity’s oscillations over time.

Testing the relationships between narcissism, risk attitude, and income with data from a representative German sample

Narcissism is related to income and risk-taking behavior, but previous studies have computed only pairwise associations and have used only domain-specific risk-taking measures. We jointly investigated narcissistic admiration and rivalry, income, and general risk attitude. Using a representative sample from the German population (N = 14,473), we contrasted a model with an indirect effect through risk attitude to income and a model with additive effects of narcissism and risk attitude. We found stronger effects of admiration on risk attitude and income than of rivalry and no evidence of the proposed indirect effect. Contrary to previous studies, we found that an individual's income was independent of their risk attitude. In exploratory analyses (Response Surface Analysis, level-and-difference-approach), we found that the relative strength of admiration compared with rivalry positively predicted risk attitude and income. Taken together, our findings are consistent with the hierarchical model of grandiose narcissism.

Sibling Constructs: What Are They, Why Do They Matter, and How Should You Handle Them?

Researchers often study constructs that are conceptually and/or empirically related, but distinct (i.e., “sibling constructs”). In social-personality psychology, as well as psychology more generally, there is little guidance for how to deal with sibling constructs, which can result in researchers ignoring or mishandling them. In this article, we start by situating sibling constructs in the literature on the jingle-jangle fallacies. Then, we outline 10 conceptual and empirical criteria for determining the degree to which, and in what ways, constructs may share a sibling relationship, using self-esteem and grandiose narcissism as a running example. Finally, we discuss strategies for handling sibling constructs in a systematic and transparent way. We hope that the procedures described here will help social-personality psychologists identify sibling constructs, understand when and why they pose problems for their research, and adopt strategies that ameliorate their adverse effects.

The Story of "I" Tracking: Psychological Implications of Self-Referential Language Use

We review extant research on the psychological implications of the use of first-person singular pronouns (i.e., “I-talk”). A common intuition is that I-talk is associated with an overly positive, highly agentic, and inflated view of the self—including arrogance, self-centeredness, and grandiose narcissism. Initial (small-sample) research provided evidence that frequent I-talk was associated with grandiose narcissism. More recent (large-sample) research, however, has found that the correlation is near zero. Frequent I-talk is, however, positively correlated with depressive symptoms, in particular, and negative emotionality (i.e., neuroticism), more broadly. Frequent I-talk is also positively related to the neurotic variety of narcissism called vulnerable narcissism. In addition, frequent I-talk has a positive association with sociodemographic characteristics such as (lower) status, (younger) age, and (female) gender; I-talk has a conditional association with truth-telling and authenticity—a correlation that appears to hinge on context. This review summarizes the literature on I-talk, provides some speculations about the emergent psychological meanings of I-talk, and provides a guide for future research.

Sibling constructs: What are they, why do they matter, and how should you handle them?

Researchers often deal with constructs that are conceptually and/or empirically related, but distinct (i.e., “sibling constructs”). In social-personality psychology, as well as psychology more generally, there is little guidance for how to deal with sibling constructs, which can result in researchers ignoring or mishandling them. In this paper, we start by situating sibling constructs in the literature on the jingle-jangle fallacies. Then, we outline 10 conceptual and empirical criteria for determining the degree to which, and in what ways, constructs may share a sibling relationship, using self-esteem and grandiose narcissism as a running example. Finally, we discuss strategies for handling sibling constructs in a systematic and transparent way. We hope that the procedures described here will help social-personality psychologists identify sibling constructs, understand when and why they pose problems for their research, and adopt strategies that ameliorate their adverse effects.

Angry Reactionary Narcissists? Anger Activates the Link Between Narcissism and Right-Populist Party Support

Even though previous research connected personality traits and support for radical-right populist parties (RRP), the question of which mechanisms connect these concepts is still underexplored. In particular, we focus on narcissistic rivalry, a maladaptive path of grandiose narcissism. Drawing on the affective intelligence framework and the narcissistic admiration and rivalry concept, we propose that the effect of rival narcissism on vote choice for the German Alternative für Deutschland is mediated by reactionary political orientations and activated by anger. Drawing on 2017 data from the mixed-mode representative GESIS panel (N = 2,552 & 1,901), we employ moderated mediation analyses. We show that reactionary political orientations mediate the relationship between narcissistic rivalry and RRP support. However, high levels of generalised anger are needed to activate the relationship between personality, reactionary values, and RRP support, whereas the mediating role of anti-immigrant sentiment is not affected by anger. Our study emphasises the role of anger in RRP support, thus showing that anger might explain why only some people with a specific predisposition support RRPs. The study also stresses the complexity of the relationship between personality, value orientations, and political behaviour.