The nonlinear association between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism: An individual data meta‐analysis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Objective: Narcissism can manifest in grandiose and vulnerable patterns of experience and behavior. While largely unrelated in the general population, individuals with clinically relevant narcissism are thought to display both. Our previous studies showed that trait measures of grandiosity and vulnerability were unrelated at low-to-moderate levels of grandiose narcissism, but related at high levels. Method: We replicate and extend these findings in a preregistered individual data meta-analysis (“mega-analysis”) using data from the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI)/Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS; N = 10,519, k = 28) and the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory (FFNI; N = 7,738, k = 17). Results: There was strong evidence for the hypothesis in the FFNI (β Grandiose < 1 SD =.08, β Grandiose > 1 SD =.36, β Grandiose > 2 SD =.53), and weaker evidence in the NPI/HSNS (β Grandiose < 1 SD =.00, β Grandiose > 1 SD =.12, β Grandiose > 2 SD =.32). Nonlinearity increased with age but was invariant across other moderators. Higher vulnerability was predicted by elevated antagonistic and low agentic narcissism at subfactor level. Conclusion: Narcissistic vulnerability increases at high levels of grandiosity. Interpreted along Whole Trait Theory, the effects are thought to reflect state changes echoing in trait measures and can help to link personality and clinical models.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)703-726
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of personality
Volume90
Issue number5
Early online date3 Dec 2021
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85123636065
Mendeley 294e10da-2711-33d6-b2e1-8bd6b81e21de
unpaywall 10.1111/jopy.12692
WOS 000748613100001
ORCID /0000-0001-7646-8265/work/142232570

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • breakpoint, grandiose narcissism, grandiosity, nonlinearity, vulnerability, vulnerable narcissism