Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry: An Interpersonal Approach to Construct Validation

Abstract

The present study applied the interpersonal perspective in testing the narcissistic admiration and rivalry concept (NARC) and examining the construct validity of the corresponding Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ). Two undergraduate samples (Sample 1: N = 290; Sample 2: N = 188) completed self-report measures of interpersonal processes based in the interpersonal circumplex (IPC), as well as measures of related constructs. In examining IPC correlates, we used a novel bootstrapping approach to determine if admiration and rivalry related to differing interpersonal profiles. Consistent with our hypotheses, admiration was distinctly related to generally agentic (i.e., dominant) interpersonal processes, whereas rivalry generally reflected (low) communal (i.e., hostile) interpersonal processes. Furthermore, NARQ-admiration and NARQ-rivalry related to generally adaptive and maladaptive aspects of status-related constructs, emotional, personality, and social adjustment, respectively. This research provides further support for the NARC, as well as construct validation for the NARQ.

Longitudinal Associations of Narcissism with Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Institutional Outcomes: An Investigation Using a Representative Sample of the German Population

“…In this context, admiration can be understood as a dominant/agentic orientation while rivalry most strongly aligns with a hostile orientation. Indeed, when empirically investigating these relationships, Grove, Smith, Girard, and Wright (2019) found admiration to be distinctly related to agentic and rivalry to be distinctly related to hostile interpersonal processes.…”

The effect of narcissistic admiration and rivalry on mental toughness

“…Admiration and rivalry also show contrasting effects on emotional adjustment and well-being. Rivalry is associated with greater negative affect, emotion regulation difficulties, rumination and lower well-being, whereas admiration has an inverse (i.e., more adaptive) association with each variable (Grove et al, 2019). Thus, rather than grandiose narcissism being a unidimensional construct, it comprises both agentic (admiration) and antagonistic (rivalry) dimensions (Back et al, 2013).…”

“…Converging evidence supports the existence of a two-dimensional construct of narcissism, comprising both agentic (admiration) and antagonistic (rivalry) dimensions. (Back et al, 2013;Grove, Smith, Girard, & Wright., 2019). Admiration is associated with a range of positive outcomes (e.g., high self-esteem, assertiveness), whereas narcissistic rivalry is associated with relatively negative outcomes (e.g., unstable self-esteem, arrogance; Back et al, 2013;Geukes et al, 2017;Leckelt et al, 2015).…”

“…Admiration is associated with a range of positive outcomes (e.g., high self-esteem, assertiveness), whereas narcissistic rivalry is associated with relatively negative outcomes (e.g., unstable self-esteem, arrogance; Back et al, 2013;Geukes et al, 2017;Leckelt et al, 2015). Admiration and rivalry are also associated with different motivational styles to avoid inferiority (Grove et al, 2019). Admiration is associated with a secure non-striving style such that individuals believe they will be valued irrespective of success or failure.…”

“…Admiration is associated with a secure non-striving style such that individuals believe they will be valued irrespective of success or failure. In contrast, rivalry is associated with an insecure striving style that is driven by a fear of inferiority and increased stress and anxiety (Grove et al, 2019). Admiration predicts the use of strategies oriented around gaining status through displaying competence whereas rivalry predicts the use of strategies where status is more readily gained through conflict and displaying dominance (Zeigler-Hill et al, 2018).…”