Interpersonal consequences of narcissism

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by grandiosity, entitlement, and a lack of empathy.
• Understanding the interpersonal consequences of narcissism is crucial for social dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interpersonal consequences of varying levels of narcissism in both male and female targets.
• To compare interpersonal responses to individuals with extreme, moderate, and low narcissism scores.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) and its subscales.
• Participants evaluated fictitious student profiles (Tom/Ann) with different NPI scores.
• Assessed participant interest in further interaction and rejection levels.

Main Results:

• Participant and target gender did not significantly influence interpersonal responses.
• Individuals with extreme narcissism scores were met with significantly less interest and greater rejection.
• High scores on self-absorption and entitlement subscales were associated with negative interpersonal outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Extreme narcissism, particularly traits of self-absorption and entitlement, leads to negative interpersonal consequences.
• Social rejection is a significant outcome for individuals exhibiting high levels of narcissism.
• Interpersonal dynamics are negatively impacted by pronounced narcissistic traits, irrespective of gender.