Moving beyond parents in the etiology of narcissistic traits.

Abstract

The core features of narcissism have been thoroughly discussed in the preceding chapters. What stands out from this discussion is the apparent importance of interpersonal processes in the development and maintenance of narcissism. The interpersonal nature of narcissism stands in sharp contrast to other conceptualizations of self, such as global feelings of self-esteem, that largely involve internal thoughts and feelings (Washburn, McMahon, King, Reinecke, & Silver, 2004). Because an individual with low self-esteem may experience self-deprecating cognitions, depressive affect, and withdrawn behavior without ever interacting with others, the manifestations of high or low self-esteem do not require interaction with others. APPLICATION OF ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THEORY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NARCISSISM How are narcissistic traits influenced by social systems throughout the life span? Ecological systems theory, initially conceptualized by Urie Bronfenbrenner (1979), suggests that human development is influenced by multiple interpersonal and social systems. Bronfenbrenner proposed that four social

Survival of the Scheming: A Genetically Informed Link Between the Dark Triad and Mental Toughness

“…More likely, however, it may be the case that, when assessing the joint manifestation of narcissism and mental toughness, rather than addressing each set of variables separately, non-shared environmental effects may indeed play a role in the extent to which these traits are exhibited. Washburn and Paskar (2011) describe an ecological systems theory encompassing four distinct interpersonal systems thought to influence narcissism (the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem), which highlights the many levels at which environmental factors can be influential to the trait. By extension, these same factors may also contribute to higher levels of mental toughness.…”