New Research Challenges Stereotypes About Narcissists’ Self-Perception
Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
Contrary to popular belief, new research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science suggests that narcissistic folks may not be as self-deceptive about their social reputation as previously thought.
The study found that those high in narcissistic admiration tend to have a relatively accurate understanding of how they are perceived by others, particularly in areas that enhance social standing, such as intelligence and attractiveness.
What is Narcissism? Key Traits and Types
Narcissism is a personality trait often marked by grandiosity, a need for admiration, and low empathy for others. Narcissists tend to believe they are superior and deserving of special treatment. However, this personality trait manifests in two distinct ways:
Narcissistic Admiration: Folks in this category are motivated by a desire for approval and social recognition, believing they are likable, intelligent, and worthy of admiration.
Narcissistic Rivalry: These folks adopt a more competitive, defensive stance, often feeling threatened by others and believing they are viewed negatively.
This research focused on how these two types of narcissists perceive how they are seen by others—specifically, whether they tend to overestimate the positivity of these perceptions.
Do Narcissists Overestimate How Positively They Are Seen?
Past research has often depicted narcissists as having inflated self-views, but this new study sought to clarify whether they consistently overestimate how positively they are perceived by others.
The research, led by Victoria Pringle, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto Mississauga, used a multi-sample approach to understand how narcissists think others see them in various social settings.
The study drew data from 1,537 participants across four studies, each involving social interactions, from brief conversations to group tasks. After each interaction, participants rated how they thought others perceived them on attributes like intelligence, likability, and extraversion.
Their perceptions were then compared to actual feedback from those they interacted with.
Surprising Accuracy in Narcissistic Admiration
The study found that folks with high levels of narcissistic admiration often expected to be seen positively, and in many cases, their expectations were fairly accurate. Their self-perceptions aligned closely with how others saw them, especially in areas related to social appeal, such as intelligence and attractiveness. This finding is important because it challenges the stereotype that all narcissists grossly overestimate how positively others see them.
"We didn’t find evidence that people high in narcissism systematically overestimate how positively others see them," Pringle explained in her interview with PsyPost. "Narcissists with high admiration didn’t necessarily inflate their social appeal beyond reality, particularly when first impressions were involved."
This finding aligns with previous research by Carlson and DesJardins (2015), who found that narcissists with grandiose traits are often socially skilled and aware of the impressions they make, especially in short-term or first-time interactions. This ability to create favorable impressions is a key element of the narcissistic admiration subtype, helping them maintain their social standing and sense of superiority.
Narcissistic Rivalry: A Different Story
The picture was quite different for folks high in narcissistic rivalry. These people believed they were seen more negatively, particularly in traits related to agreeableness and emotional stability, and often, these perceptions were accurate.
Narcissistic rivalry, which is characterized by antagonism and competitiveness, can lead to strained social relationships, and people with these traits often expect and experience negative evaluations from others.
This aligns with research by Leckelt et al. (2015), which found that narcissistic rivalry leads to more conflictual interactions, and folks high in this trait are often aware of the tension they create. They tend to expect criticism and rejection, which may exacerbate their defensive and antagonistic behavior.
What This Means for Understanding Narcissism
This study adds to the growing body of research showing that narcissism is more complex than a simple case of inflated self-views.
While narcissists with admiration traits expect to be seen positively and often are, those with rivalry traits are aware that they may not be well-liked. This awareness could help explain why people high in narcissistic rivalry are often defensive and antagonistic in social settings.
Narcissists’ expectations about how they are perceived are not uniformly inflated but instead reflect the different ways narcissism manifests. This nuanced understanding is critical for both clinical work and interpersonal relationships involving narcissistic folks.
Implications for Relationships and Social Dynamics
The study’s findings offer insights for partners navigating relationships with narcissists.
Narcissistic admiration, for instance, may not necessarily lead to exaggerated self-perception but rather a realistic, albeit highly positive, understanding of how others view them. This may explain why individuals with narcissistic admiration can initially be quite charming and socially effective, especially in superficial interactions (Back et al., 2010).
However, narcissistic rivalry is more likely to result in strained relationships, as these individuals tend to anticipate negative feedback and act defensively. Understanding this dynamic could help individuals better manage relationships with narcissistic individuals, as well as offer a framework for clinicians to address these traits in therapy.
Limitations and Future Research Directions
While the study provides valuable insights, it is important to recognize that the sample primarily included undergraduate students, most of whom were women. This limits the generalizability of the findings to broader, more diverse populations.
Further research is needed to explore narcissistic self-perception in clinical populations and more varied social contexts.
Additionally, future research could investigate how narcissistic traits evolve in high-pressure or long-term relationships.
Studies like those conducted by Morf and Rhodewalt (2001) show that narcissists tend to maintain their grandiose self-image by seeking out short-term rewards, but longitudinal research could shed light on how these dynamics play out over time.
Rethinking Narcissistic Self-Perception
This new research directly challenges the stereotype that narcissists consistently overestimate their social appeal.
While narcissists do tend to expect to be viewed positively, particularly those high in narcissistic admiration, their beliefs are not always inflated. In contrast, individuals with narcissistic rivalry are more likely to anticipate negative evaluations, which often align with reality.
These findings add complexity to our understanding of narcissism and suggest that self-awareness among narcissists varies based on the type of narcissism they exhibit.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Back, M. D., Schmukle, S. C., & Egloff, B. (2010). Why are narcissists so charming at first sight? Decoding the narcissism–popularity link at zero acquaintance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(1), 132–145. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016338
Carlson, E. N., & DesJardins, N. M. (2015). Do narcissists know that they are narcissistic? Investigating self-awareness of narcissism using the over-claiming technique. Personality and Individual Differences, 82, 125-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.03.028
Leckelt, M., Küfner, A. C. P., Nestler, S., & Back, M. D. (2015). Behavioral processes underlying the decline of narcissists’ popularity over time. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109(5), 856–871. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000057
Morf, C. C., & Rhodewalt, F. (2001). Unraveling the paradoxes of narcissism: A dynamic self-regulatory processing model. Psychological Inquiry, 12(4), 177-196. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1204_1
Pringle, V., Tissera, H., Elsaadawy, N., Carlson, E., & Human, L. (2024). Do narcissists think they make a better impression than they really do? Re-evaluating enhancement as a dominant feature of narcissism. Social Psychological and Personality Science.