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Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
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Avoidance coping explains the link between narcissism and counternormative tendencies
Wojciech Podsiadłowski1, Marta Marchlewska1, Marta Rogoza1
1Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|October 24, 2024
Summary
Narcissism may drive counternormative behaviors like conspiracy beliefs and cyberbullying by promoting avoidance coping strategies. This suggests these tendencies stem from maladaptive ways of managing stress.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Narcissism is linked to counternormative tendencies such as conspiracy beliefs, cyberbullying, and catfishing.
- These tendencies may arise from difficulties in experiencing psychological threats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate avoidance coping as a mediator between narcissism and counternormative tendencies.
- To understand the psychological mechanisms underlying the link between narcissism and maladaptive behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Four studies with a total of 2643 participants from the United States and Poland.
- Examined conspiracy beliefs, willingness to conspire, cyberbullying, and catfishing.
- Utilized mediation analysis to assess the role of avoidance coping.
Main Results:
- A consistent positive indirect relationship was found between narcissism and counternormative tendencies.
- Avoidance coping significantly mediated the relationship between narcissism and behaviors like conspiracy beliefs and cyberbullying.
- Findings were consistent across all four studies.
Conclusions:
- Counternormative tendencies may represent maladaptive coping strategies.
- Avoidance coping is a key mechanism linking narcissism to behaviors that deflect from stress at others' expense.
- Understanding these mechanisms can inform interventions for narcissistic traits and related behaviors.
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