Narcissism's effect on regulatory processes in interpersonal situations.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Narcissism is linked to emotional dysregulation.
• Interpersonal interactions can trigger maladaptive emotional responses in individuals with narcissism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how narcissism influences the relationship between perceived partner behavior and negative emotions.
• To replicate and extend previous findings on narcissism and interpersonal dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Examined four independent samples (N=1,022, n=35,975) using preregistered analyses.
• Assessed narcissism, perceived partner behavior (dominance, coldness), and own negative affect.

Main Results:

• Narcissism amplified the link between perceiving partners as dominant and experiencing negative affect.
• Narcissism also amplified the link between perceiving partners as cold and experiencing negative affect.
• Narcissistic vulnerability played a unique role in these effects, even when controlling for grandiosity.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal dominance and coldness may threaten narcissistic goals, leading to increased negative affect.
• Narcissistic vulnerability is a key factor in heightened negative emotional responses to perceived interpersonal threats.
• Understanding social contexts is crucial for addressing dysregulation in individuals high in narcissism.