The Meaningfulness of Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissism in Forensic Mental Health Rehabilitation Practice: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Narcissism is a personality construct with grandiose, and vulnerable aspects, that are interconnected through antagonistic characteristics. While antagonism is strongly related to antisocial behavior, the role of narcissism remains underexplored in offender rehabilitation practice. Research in non-forensic samples has already shown promising results in the differential associations for grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in relation to violent and antisocial behavior and treatment responsiveness that could be relevant for offender rehabilitation. To research the meaningfulness of both narcissism aspects for forensic offender rehabilitation practice, we systematically reviewed the electronic literature databases CINAHL EBSCOhost, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, Medline All Ovid, PsycINFO Ovid, and Web of Science Core Collection. Subsequently, we synthesized the outcome into meaningful data classifications related to the risk of violence in offender populations and treatment responsivity. In total, 14 publications on forensic samples were included. Overall, the findings suggest that grandiose narcissism was strongly related to proactive violence and a low treatment responsiveness. Vulnerable narcissism was associated with reactive aggression, mediated by impulsivity and negative emotions, and with a moderate responsivity level. As such, both narcissism aspects seem relevant for the development of structured and focused treatment plans in offender rehabilitation practice. The implications for offender rehabilitation practice are provided.

Narcissism and Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Grandiose narcissists were violent when triggered by threats to their self-esteem, while for those high in vulnerable narcissism, explosive anger episodes were triggered by fears of abandonment ( Green & Charles, 2019 ). Moreover, a meta-analysis examining differences in narcissism types in forensic rehabilitation found that grandiose narcissism was correlated to proactive violence whereas vulnerable narcissism was correlated to reactive violence mediated by impulsivity and distressing emotions ( Keune et al, 2021 ). Together this research aligns with this review’s finding that the strength of the relationship between IPV perpetration differs significantly between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism but this is likely moderated by different precipitating factors of the IPV perpetrated by grandiose and vulnerable narcissists; future research should explore this.…”

“…Moreover, future research should examine mediators and moderators of the relationships between grandiose as well as vulnerable narcissism and IPV perpetration. Given the different unique and complex traits of these types of narcissism, violence perpetrated by those with each trait may be influenced by a third variable such as impulsivity ( Keune et al, 2021 ), or attachment ( Buck et al, 2014 ). Rinker (2010) argued that physical IPV perpetration and controlling behaviors are mediated by the subtypes of narcissism and thus, it is necessary for research to differentiate between these traits.…”