An MMPI-2 portrait of narcissism

This study developed a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) portrait of narcissism using the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and 5 narcissism scales derived from the MMPI-2 with a nonclinical sample of 283 subjects. Correlational analyses revealed a divergent pattern of relationships among the 16 narcissism measures and MMPI-2 scales, with 1 set of narcissism scales correlating positively with MMPI-2 mania (Ma) and a second set correlating positively with MMPI-2 depression (D), psychasthenia (Pt), feelings of inferiority (Sc), social introversion (Si), and other measures of distress. A principal-components analysis of the 6 narcissism scales produced 2 orthogonal factors, 1 suggesting Grandiosity and the other Depletion. High scorers on the Grandiosity factor were equally well characterized by a 98/89 or 96/69 MMPI-2 profile with an average F, whereas high scorers on the Depletion factor were best represented by an 87/78 profile with an elevated F. Profile analyses of high scorers on the narcissism scales indicated that a 98/89 MMPI-2 profile with an elevated F score is the best overall representation of the narcissistic personality in nonclinical samples. Results supported 3 alternative interpretations, including a narcissistic continuum, narcissism as a pathological defense against depression and rage, and 2 forms of narcissism, 1 grandiose and overt and the other depleted and covert.