The mystery of communion in narcissism: The success-as-a-flaw effect

Abstract

In the present paper we consider the specific relationship between communal and agentic functioning of narcissistic individuals. The study was aimed to test whether narcissist’s aggression is due to not only negative information about their agency but also positive information about their communion. Whereas the first effect is well- documented in empirical studies, the second effect has been revealed in our prior research. The results of the present study confirmed both effects: negative information about one’s agency increased aggressive tendencies (operationalized as a display of demeaning behavior) and decreased state self-esteem, while positive information about one’s communion resulted only in displaced aggression. The aggressive response to positive communal information is discussed as the success-as-aflaw effect, which we mean as inverse of the failure-as-an asset effect. According to the success-as-a-flaw effect, positive outcomes in the communal domain, considered by narcissists to be an evidence of low-status, are threatening for the grandiose self, based on the domain of agency. The social cognitive and clinical approach is employed to interpret these results.

Validation of the Polish version of the Collective Self-Esteem Scale

“…In terms of discriminant validity, the Membership subscale had the highest correlation with personal self-esteem, which is consistent with the essence of the definition of this subscale as the most individualistic aspect of social identity (Luhtanen & Crocker, 1992). Moreover, only the Membership subscale was related to narcissism, which is in line with the findings that high narcissism is related to both general agentic orientation (vs. communal orientation) and relative lack of interest in warm and caring interpersonal relationships (see Bazińska, Drat-Ruszczak, & Pałucha, 2004;Campbell & Foster, 2007;Drat-Ruszczak, Bazińska, & Niemyjska, 2014). As predicted, the total scores of the CSES were negatively associated with measured overall psychological distress symptoms -depression and anxiety.…”