Narcissistic Reactions to Subordinate Role Assignment

Abstract

Narcissists aspire to be leaders and consequently may react negatively to being assigned a subordinate role, even though such roles may be integral to group functioning. In the first three studies, participants were assigned to a low status role (i.e., "employee"), high status role (i.e., "project manager"), or (in Studies 2 and 3) control condition. More narcissistic participants were less satisfied and discredited the role assignment more in the employee condition than in the project manager condition. Furthermore, more narcissistic participants displayed greater self-interest in the employee condition, relative to the project manager condition (Study 2), and less willingness to engage in behaviors to benefit the group in the employee condition, relative to the project manager and control conditions (Study 3). In Study 4, these findings were replicated in sports teams. Although there is nothing inherently negative about subordinate roles, narcissists perceive them negatively and react poorly to occupying them.

Leader Narcissism and Outcomes in Organizations: A Review at Multiple Levels of Analysis and Implications for Future Research

“…Alternatively, grandiose narcissists might be motivated to lead, while vulnerable narcissists are more likely to follow (Kark and Van Dijk, 2007). Benson et al (2016) studied narcissists' reactions when they were assigned to followership roles, demonstrating that they perceived these roles poorly and did not occupy them well (e.g., high self-interest and low willingness to act for the benefit of the collective). We encourage research to clarify these relations, using advanced measures for this purpose (e.g., Pathological Narcissism Inventory, PNI; Pincus et al, 2009), which would also contribute to a better integration of leadership and followership theory.…”

I am the chosen one: Narcissism in the backdrop of self‐determination theory

“…Indeed, they are rated as leaders (Judge et al, ) and considered “managerial material” even by experienced interviewers (Schnure, ). Cognizant of their strengths (Carlson, ), and armed with desire for status (Horton & Sedikides, ), narcissists pursue leadership positions (Benson, Jordan, & Christie, ) and are often selected for them (Brunell et al, ), especially at times of uncertainty (Nevicka, De Hoogh, Van Vianen, & Beersma, ). But are they effective leaders?…”

Grandiose Narcissists Seek Status Selectively

“…They also neglect (or misremember) unfavorable feedback, making them resilient in the face of difficulty (e.g., Horton & Sedikides, 2009;Rhodewalt & Eddings, 2002;Sedikides & Gregg, 2001). Narcissists may also lash out when their need for status is unsatisfied; for example, narcissists were unhappy when placed in a subordinate (vs. leadership) position, consequently engaging in destructive activities that do not benefit the group (Benson, Jordan, & Christie, 2016). Together, this may suggest that narcissists are motivated to achieve fame but only when achieving fame is relatively guaranteed.…”