Vulnerable and Grandiose Narcissism Are Differentially Associated With Ability and Trait Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

We examined the association between two types of narcissism, grandiose and vulnerable, and self-reported as well as ability emotional intelligence (EI). Grandiose narcissism is characterized by high self–esteem, interpersonal dominance and a tendency to overestimate one’s capabilities, whereas vulnerable narcissism presents defensive, avoidant and hypersensitive attitude in interpersonal relations. In the current study (n = 249) we found that vulnerable narcissism was significantly and negatively associated with trait (self-reported) EI; however, it did not correlate with ability (performance) EI. Grandiose narcissism was significantly positively connected with trait EI. Moreover, when the two EI scores were analyzed together in a single model, they were associated with grandiose narcissism in opposite directions. Specifically, trait EI showed a positive relation with grandiose narcissism, while ability EI negatively predicted this type of narcissism. The latter results are consistent with previous findings showing that individuals with high level of grandiose narcissism tend to overestimate their abilities. Vulnerable narcissism is probably connected with more realistic self-perception of emotional abilities.

The relationship of narcissism with tendency to react with anger and hostility: The roles of neuroticism and emotion regulation ability

“…Although vulnerable narcissism did not correlate with the global ability EI, it was significantly associated with low facilitation subscale from the ability EI measure among women -in line with earlier findings (Zajenkowski et al 2018). This aspect of EI reflects an ability to assimilate emotions with thinking and problem solving as well as to use emotion to direct attention to important information (Mayer et al 2004).…”

“…Grandiose narcissism has been found to be essentially unrelated to deficits of ability EI (e.g., Czarna et al 2016aCzarna et al , 2016bJauk et al 2016a, b;Konrath et al 2014), and even to have a positive association with EI measured via self-report methods (trait EI; Austin et al 2014;Petrides et al 2011;Vonk et al 2013;Zajenkowski et al 2018;Zhang et al 2015a, b). Additionally, grandiose narcissism shows a negative association with emotion dysregulation, a construct closely related to EI (Zhang et al 2015a(Zhang et al , 2015bZeigler-Hill and Vonk 2015).…”

“…In contrast, vulnerable narcissism may be linked to low emotional ability and difficulties in emotion regulation. Researchers have found that vulnerable narcissism negatively correlates with some EI subfactors (i.e., facilitation and managing emotions; Zajenkowski et al 2018). Moreover, vulnerable narcissism has been linked to maladaptive emotion regulation, such as nonacceptance of one's own emotional responses, impulse control difficulties, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and a lack of emotional clarity (Czarna et al 2018;Miller et al 2010;Petrides et al 2011;Zhang et al 2015a, b).…”

High Esteem and Hurting Others Online: Trait Sadism Moderates the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Internet Trolling

“…Future research should also seek to continue exploring the interaction between esteem/egoism, sadism, and antisocial online behavior. A possible direction is differentiating between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, as grandiose (not vulnerable) narcissism is associated with self-esteem, 42 and might be better associated with aggressive behaviors. 43,44 To explore the covariance between self-esteem and narcissism in predicting antisocial online behavior, and to determine if this relationship is better attributed to grandiose or vulnerable narcissism, future research could include measures of grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism (such as the Brief-Pathological Narcissism Inventory 45 ).…”

Can neuroscience help to understand narcissism? A systematic review of an emerging field

“…Neuroscience methods offer a particularly promising view into narcissistic personality functioning as they might be less influenced by cognitive biases and response styles that can render pure self-report studies problematic. These include, among others, overestimation of emotion-related and social competencies in narcissism (Ames & Kammrath, 2004;Jauk, Freudenthaler, et al, 2016;John & Robins, 1994;Lobbestael et al, 2016;Mota et al, 2019;Zajenkowski et al, 2018), which are directly relevant to the studies reviewed here.…”