Narcissistic Traits and Explicit Self-Esteem: The Moderating Role of Implicit Self-View

Abstract

Objective: Whilst the relationship between narcissism and self-esteem has been studied for a long time, findings are still controversial. The majority of studies investigated narcissistic grandiosity (NG), neglecting the existence of vulnerable manifestations of narcissism. Moreover, recent studies have shown that grandiosity traits are not always associated with inflated explicit self-esteem. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between narcissistic traits and explicit self-esteem, distinguishing between grandiosity and vulnerability. Moreover, we consider the role of implicit self-esteem in qualifying these associations.Method: Narcissistic traits, explicit and implicit self-esteem measures were assessed among 120 university students (55.8% women, Mage = 22.55, SD = 3.03).Results: Results showed different patterns of association between narcissistic traits and explicit self-esteem, depending on phenotypic manifestations of narcissism. Narcissistic vulnerability (NV) was linked to low explicit self-evaluations regardless of one’s levels of implicit self-esteem. On the other hand, the link between NG and explicit self-esteem was qualified by levels of implicit self-views, such that grandiosity was significantly associated with inflated explicit self-evaluations only at either high or medium levels of implicit self-views.Discussion: These findings showed that the relationship between narcissistic traits and explicit self-esteem is not univocal, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between NG and NV. Finally, the study suggested that both researchers and clinicians should consider the relevant role of implicit self-views in conditioning self-esteem levels reported explicitly by individuals with grandiose narcissistic traits.

The Dark Triad of Personality in the Context of Health Behaviors: Ally or Enemy?

“…Positive correlations between narcissism and PMA are consistent with the relationships demonstrated in the literature between this trait and beneficial psychological characteristics (the healthy narcissism trend) [ 40 , 41 ], which, in the context of our research, is exemplified by avoiding excessively strong emotions, stress, tensions or depression. Narcissistic self-sufficiency and vanity are associated with the belief in one’s competence and resources and the belief in the ability to lead others [ 40 ]. Such beliefs allow the person to build a positive self-image and can be linked to the feeling of satisfaction with life [ 21 ].…”

Dimensionality of narcissism: a Bifactorial model of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory using single-stimulus response formats

“…This might have several explanations. Grandiose narcissism is consistently found to be in positive relationship with explicit self-esteem (Hyatt et al, 2018;Di Pierro et al, 2016;Maxwell et al, 2011); however, our results show that this, on the one hand is based on the general factor and, on the other, on Grandiose Exhibitionism. Individuals with defensive high self-esteem can be afraid to admit negative self-feelings, therefore presenting an overly positive or grandiose image might affect answering self-esteem related items (Kernis, 2003).…”

Hypervigilance to self-threat: Further experimental evidence for the mask model of narcissism

“…The evidence has been mixed. Some studies obtained support for narcissistic fragility (Gregg & Sedikides, 2010;Jordan, Spencer, Zanna, Hoshino-Browne, & Correll, 2003;Di Pierro, Mattavelli, & Gallucci, 2016;Zeigler-Hill, 2006), but others (Brown & Brunell, 2017;Marissen, Brouwer, Hiemstra, Deen, & Franken, 2016), including an early meta-analysis (Bosson et al, 2008), obtained no support for it even when focusing exclusively on the agentic domain (rather than the communal domain-i.e., warmth, cooperation, relatedness; Campbell, Bosson, Goheen, Lakey, & Kernis, 2007;Fatfouta & Schröder-Abé, 2018). A recent and comprehensive approach, applying an information-theoretic and Response Surface Analysis to data from 18 samples, yielded inconsistent findings (Mota et al, 2019).…”