Narcissism and newlywed marriage: Partner characteristics and marital trajectories.

Abstract

Despite narcissism’s relation with interpersonal dysfunction, surprisingly little empirical research has been devoted to understanding narcissism’s effect on intimate relationships in general or marital relationships in particular. The current study addressed this gap using longitudinal data from a community sample of 146 newlywed couples assessed 6 times over the first four years of marriage. First, we examined partner characteristics associated with higher levels of narcissism to determine the degree to which couples were matched on narcissism and related traits. Second, we examined how narcissism predicted the trajectory of marital quality over time, testing narcissism’s association with initial levels of relationship functioning (the intercept) and changes in relationship functioning (the slope). Results indicated a small degree of homophily but otherwise no clear pattern of partner characteristics for individuals higher in narcissism. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that wives’ total narcissism and entitlement/ exploitativeness scores predicted the slope of marital quality over time, including steeper declines in marital satisfaction and steeper increases in marital problems. Husbands’ narcissism scores generally had few effects on their own marital quality or that of their wives. These findings are notable in indicating that the effects of personality characteristics on marital functioning may take some time to manifest themselves, even if they were present from early in the marriage. Future research into the mediating psychological and interpersonal processes that link wives’ narcissism with poorer marital functioning over time would be valuable.

How Likable Are Personality Disorder and General Personality Traits to Those Who Possess Them?

“…Or they may be less reactive to their same trait pathology when it emerges in others. The observed pattern of tolerance but not necessarily likability may help to explain the moderate levels of homophily present for couples where personality pathology is present (e.g., Lavner et al, ). Seeing traits as “less dislikable” does not mean, of course, that individuals would be attracted to or seek out potential friends or romantic partners with these traits; instead, individuals with these more problematic traits may not be as quick to exclude individuals with these same traits from their social networks (e.g., Lamkin et al, ).…”

“…However, when comparing actual likability values, high scorers did not actually report liking those traits as much as they appear to be slightly more tolerant of them. This may explain why only modest levels of homophily are observed for PDs and related traits in romantic relationship studies (e.g., Lavner et al, ; Lavner, Lamkin, Miller, Campbell, & Carney, ), as these individuals may not necessarily look for romantic partners or friends with these traits but rather are simply less likely to exclude individuals with PD traits from fulfilling such roles.…”

The effect of pathological narcissism on interpersonal and affective processes in social interactions.

“…As such, antagonistic behavior and aggression may be negatively reinforcing (remove stimulus), positively reinforcing (gratifying to punish other), or both, increasing the likelihood of the behavior despite negative interpersonal consequences. This process, wherein others’ assertion triggers hostility from the individual high in narcissism, is likely to interfere with the development of mutual and satisfying interpersonal relationships thereby contributing to the deterioration of relationships over time (e.g., Lavner et al, 2016; Paulhus, 1998). …”

“…In addition, the social processes driving narcissism’s negative impacts exert cumulative effects, even spoiling early advantages (Miller, Campbell, & Pilkonis, 2007; Lavner et al, 2016; Oltmanns & Turkheimer, 2009; Paulhus, 1998). However, little systematic research has addressed the manner in which narcissism influences social situations in daily life.…”

Personality Disorders and Romantic Relationships: Introduction to the Special Section

“…More recently, research has started to use sophisticated modeling of longitudinal data to examine if PD traits are detrimental in their impact on change over time. Work to date is mixed; for borderline PD, problems in the relationship are present from the beginning and PD traits are relatively unrelated to change in satisfaction over time (Lavner et al, 2015), but there is evidence that wives' narcissism predicts decreases in their own and their husbands' satisfaction (Lavner, Lamkin, Miller, Campbell, & Karney, 2016).…”