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The link between narcissism and aggression: A meta-analytic review
Sophie L Kjærvik1, Brad J Bushman1
1School of Communication, The Ohio State University.
Psychological Bulletin
|July 22, 2021
Summary
Narcissism is linked to aggression and violence, especially when provoked. This connection holds across various narcissism types, aggression forms, and demographics, highlighting narcissism as a significant risk factor.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance and a need for admiration.
- Aggression and violence are complex behaviors with multifaceted origins.
- Understanding the relationship between personality traits and aggressive behavior is crucial for psychological research and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To meta-analytically review the empirical link between narcissism and aggression.
- To investigate whether provocation moderates the narcissism-aggression relationship.
- To examine the robustness of this relationship across different narcissism dimensions, aggression types, and demographic factors.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis synthesizing data from 437 independent studies.
- Inclusion of 123,043 participants across diverse study designs (experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal).
- Assessment of aggression using self-report, other-report, and observational measures.
Main Results:
- Narcissism showed a significant positive correlation with both aggression (r = .26) and violence (r = .23).
- The narcissism-aggression link was stronger under provocation (r = .29) than without provocation (r = .12), but significant in both conditions.
- Relationships were consistent across all narcissism dimensions, aggression forms, and demographic groups, and robust to biases.
Conclusions:
- Provocation is a key moderator, intensifying the link between narcissism and aggression.
- Individuals high in narcissism exhibit heightened aggression when their ego is threatened.
- Narcissism is a significant and pervasive risk factor for aggression and violence.
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