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The personality context of relational aggression: A Five-Factor Model profile analysis.
Kathleen W Reardon1, Jennifer L Tackett1, Don Lynam2
1Department of Psychology, Northwestern University.
Personality Disorders
|January 18, 2017
Summary
Relational aggression (RAgg) is linked to personality pathology, particularly narcissistic personality disorder. Understanding this connection is key for early identification of personality disorder traits.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Personality Science
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Relational aggression (RAgg) involves damaging social status via manipulation or exclusion.
- RAgg's stable, impairing nature suggests links to personality pathology.
- The Five Factor Model (FFM) is a framework for understanding personality disorders (PDs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the personality context of relational aggression using the FFM.
- To construct personality profiles of RAgg from literature and expert ratings.
- To compare RAgg profiles with Cluster B PDs, especially narcissistic PD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review to compile an FFM-based profile of RAgg.
- Expert (N=19) ratings to create a second FFM-based RAgg profile.
- Comparison of RAgg profiles with existing FFM profiles of Cluster B PDs.
Main Results:
- Both FFM profiles of RAgg demonstrated significant overlap with the FFM profile of narcissistic PD.
- RAgg's personality profile aligns closely with narcissistic personality disorder traits.
- The study establishes RAgg's position within the personality spectrum of Cluster B disorders.
Conclusions:
- Relational aggression is strongly associated with narcissistic personality disorder traits.
- RAgg may be an early indicator of developing personality disorder characteristics.
- Findings bridge research on personality pathology and relational aggression, highlighting RAgg's clinical relevance.
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