Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissism

Abstract

It is suggested that the two factors of narcissism identified by Wink (1991) – grandiose (overt) and vulnerable (covert) narcissism – represent different conceptualizations of narcissism, which are measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and the Narcissism Inventory, respectively. The focus of this research is on the divergent interpersonal consequences of both factors of narcissism. Results of two studies indicate that the nomological networks of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in terms of self-construal on the one hand and attachment and love on the other hand differ substantially. As predicted, grandiose narcissism was linked to high self-esteem and independent self-construal, whereas vulnerable narcissism was linked to low self-esteem and interdependent self-construal. In addition, high vulnerable narcissism implied higher attachment anxiety than low vulnerable narcissism, whereas high grandiose narcissism implied less attachment avoidance than low grandiose narcissism. In partial support of the hypotheses, Eros, Ludus, and Pragma correlated positively with the measure of grandiose narcissism, whereas Eros, Ludus, Pragma, Mania, and Agape were positively related to the measure of vulnerable narcissism. An intriguing pattern of results emerged because vulnerable narcissism turned out to be the more powerful predictor for love styles than grandiose narcissism.

Cross-cultural narcissism on Facebook: Relationship between self-presentation, social interaction and the open and covert narcissism on a social networking site in Germany and Russia

“…In both samples, there is a positive relation between open and covert narcissism. This positive correlation was also found in other studies (e.g., Brailovskaia & Bierhoff, 2012;Rohmann et al, 2012). The common core of narcissism could explain this positive association.…”

“…Both personality traits were normally distributed. In both samples, the mean value of open narcissism is higher (e.g., Brailovskaia & Bierhoff, 2012;Rohmann et al, 2012) and the mean value of covert narcissism is lower (e.g., Neumann, 2010;Neumann & Bierhoff, 2004) than in earlier studies. t-tests for independent samples reveal that open and covert narcissism do not differ significantly between the Russian and German Facebook users (s. Table 1).…”

“…Narcissism as a personality trait reflects a high level of self-love, positive and inflated self-view, sense of entitlement, self-serving bias, as well as an exaggerated sense of self-importance and uniqueness (Campbell, Brunell, & Finkel, 2006;Twenge, Konrath, Foster, Campbell, & Bushman, 2008). There is some theoretical and empirical evidence for the dual nature of narcissism (Rohmann, Neumann, Herner, & Bierhoff, 2012;Rose, 2002;Wink, 1991): grandiose or open narcissism is contrasted with vulnerable or covert narcissism.…”

“…The explanation of these results rests on the assumption that covert and open narcissism show a common narcissism core. Both types of narcissists are persuaded of their grandiosity and uniqueness and have a demand for admiration (Rohmann et al, 2012). On Facebook covert narcissists get the chance to present their narcissism in an open manner, like open narcissists.…”

The effect of overt and covert narcissism on self-esteem and self-efficacy beyond self-esteem

“…Several studies have explored the associations of overt and covert narcissism and self-esteem (Miller et al, 2011;Pincus et al, 2009;Rohmann, Neumann, Herner, & Bierhoff, 2012;Rose, 2002). However, narcissism and its subtypes have not been considered in relation to the associated domain of self-efficacy.…”