An examination of the perceptions of social network characteristics associated with grandiose and vulnerable narcissism.

Abstract

Two dimensions of narcissism exist, grandiose and vulnerable, which are thought to be associated with distinctly different patterns of interpersonal behavior. Social network analysis is a way of quantifying and analyzing interpersonal interactions that may prove useful for characterizing the networks associated with these narcissism dimensions. In the current study, participants (N = 148) completed scales assessing both narcissism dimensions and a measure of the five-factor model of personality. Egocentric network information about participants' 30 closest friends and family members (i.e., "alters") was also obtained. Both narcissism dimensions were characterized by negative perceptions of the individuals who comprise one's social networks, and many of these relations were mediated by individuals' higher levels of antagonism. Grandiose narcissism also interacted with alter centrality (i.e., importance to the network) such that individuals low on grandiose narcissism were less likely to perceive central alters in a negative light and were more attuned to central alters than were individuals high on grandiose narcissism. Overall, both narcissism dimensions were associated with perceiving one's overall social environment negatively because of the high levels of antagonism that characterize both narcissism dimensions. Individuals high on grandiose narcissism, however, appear to be more insensitive to the relative importance of individuals in their social networks.

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

“…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, ). For example, friends who have similar narcissism scores are likely to have similar scores on other personality variables (Maaß, Lämmle, Bensch, & Ziegler, ).…”

“…Multidimensional perceiver effects (Srivastava, Guglielmo, & Beer, ) such as those based on the FFM (e.g., McCrae & Costa, ) have been found. For example, narcissistic individuals were more likely to rate the members of their social network as narcissistic, self‐centered, unlikable, and unkind (Lamkin, Clifton, Campbell, & Miller, ). In addition to these perceiver effects, individuals have a tendency to assume that others are similar to themselves, which is also referred to as assumed similarity .…”

Do Narcissism and Emotional Intelligence Win Us Friends? Modeling Dynamics of Peer Popularity Using Inferential Network Analysis

“…It did not elucidate mediators of the observed interpersonal effects, such as concrete behavioral processes. It seems possible that charming, and aggressive behaviors account for the links between narcissism and (un)popularity Leckelt et al, 2015) and that empathic and prosocial behaviors account for the link between EI and popularity.…”

“…In their effort to maintain a positive sense of self, people with high levels of narcissism often denigrate others, and as a result experience significant dislike from those around them at longer acquaintance. Their low communal focus and high antagonism (Czarna, Czerniak, & Szmajke, 2014;Czarna, Jonason, Dufner, & Kossowska, 2016;Lamkin, Clifton, Campbell, & Miller, 2014) might be discouraging to freshly won friends. Indeed narcissism predicts initial popularity (Back, Schmukle, & Egloff, 2010;Carlson, Vazire, & Oltmanns, 2011;Dufner et al, 2012;Dufner, Rauthmann, Czarna, & Denissen, 2013;Friedman, Oltmanns, Gleason, & Turkheimer, 2006, Wurst et al, in press), but studies showing longer-term costs of narcissism rather than short-term benefits have been rare, and both longitudinal studies (Leckelt, Küfner, Nestler, & Back, 2015;Paulhus, 1998) and investigations of wider interpersonal contexts are exceptions (Clifton, 2011;Czarna, Dufner, & Clifton, 2014;Küfner, Nestler, & Back, 2013).…”

Narcissism and Other‐Derogation in the Absence of Ego Threat

“…However, studies examining the relation between narcissism and other‐derogation in the absence of ego threat have produced inconsistent results. One study reported null findings (South et al., ), whereas two studies reported significant findings (Lamkin, Clifton, Campbell, & Miller, in press; Wood, Harms, & Vazire, ). Recently, Back et al.…”