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Narcissism as an Adaptive Trait for Successful Migration
Lauren O'Rourke1, Rose McDermott2, Pete Hatemi3
1School of Government and Public Policy, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.
Summary
Narcissism levels are highest in new immigrants and first-generation Americans, decreasing with subsequent generations. This suggests narcissism may be activated by stressful conditions or motivate migration, declining as individuals adapt to new environments.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Evolutionary Psychology
Background:
- Narcissism is understood as both a stable trait and a situational state.
- Limited research exists on narcissism from an evolutionary viewpoint, particularly concerning environmental changes like migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how narcissism manifests in populations experiencing significant environmental shifts, specifically focusing on immigrant generational status.
- To examine narcissism levels across different generations of immigrants in the US.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two nationally representative US samples.
- Treated immigrant generational status (new migrants, first, second, and successive generations) as a natural experiment to assess narcissism levels.
Main Results:
- New immigrants and first-generation Americans exhibited the highest levels of narcissism.
- Narcissism levels consistently decreased with each subsequent generation.
- A clear generational decline in narcissism was observed as immigrants integrated into their new environments.
Conclusions:
- Narcissism may be activated in individuals facing conditions of need, scarcity, stress, or survival.
- Alternatively, narcissism could be a significant motivator for individuals undertaking migration.
- The study highlights a generational decrease in narcissism, suggesting adaptation and integration into a new societal context.
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