Introduction: Pathological narcissism has been a challenge for the success of psychological treatment, whereas mentalizing has turned out to be an important mechanism of change in psychotherapy. This study focused on the classic narcissistic self (CNS) (i.e., narcissistic grandiosity) as predictor of the outcome. It further investigated whether mentalizing mediates this relation.
Methods: A mixed clinical sample of 205 patients was investigated. The CNS scale of the Narcissism Inventory and the Mentalization Questionnaire was used to measure the features of narcissistic grandiosity and the capacity to mentalize, respectively. The symptom outcome was assessed with the Hamburg Modules for the Assessment of Psychosocial Health.
Results: Contrary to our expectations, we did not find a direct association between narcissistic grandiosity and a decrease in symptoms. However, mentalizing was found to mediate the association between the CNS as well as between the narcissistic furor and outcome.
Conclusion: Our results confirm the ambiguity concerning the clinical significance of narcissistic grandiosity. However, in order to improve the treatment outcome in patients with narcissistic features, especially narcissistic furor, individualized treatment plans might consider introducing interventions that enhance the capacity to mentalize.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000524203 | DOI Listing |
Eur J Neurosci
January 2025
Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences (DiPSCo), University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
The Dark Triad (DT), encompassing narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy traits, poses significant societal challenges. Understanding the neural underpinnings of these traits is crucial for developing effective interventions and preventive strategies. Our study aimed to unveil the neural substrates of the DT by examining brain scans from 201 individuals (mean age: 32.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPersonal Disord
January 2025
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Research on externalizing psychopathology has relied heavily on White samples to generate core knowledge, with few studies examining variability in its components, including grandiose narcissism, across racial/ethnic groups. This preregistered (https://osf.io/n4s3f/) study addressed the following research questions: (1) Is there evidence for measurement invariance of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ) across racial/ethnic groups?; (2) Are there racial/ethnic group differences in (a) mean levels of the two NARQ subscales: admiration and rivalry, and (b) correlations between NARQ subscales and self-esteem?; (3) Do variations in ethnic identity commitment account for any observed group differences in the mean levels and correlations? The sample consisted of 1,248 U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Sex Behav
December 2024
Division of Educational Psychology, Institute of Educational Science, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
The dark-ego-vehicle principle (DEVP) suggests that individuals with so-called dark personalities (e.g., high narcissistic traits) are attracted to political and social activism that they can repurpose to satisfy their specific ego-focused needs (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Youth Adolesc
November 2024
Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China.
Previous studies have identified narcissism as one of the dark triad personalities. However, contradictory findings were found regarding the relationship between grandiose narcissism and prosocial behaviors. The present research further explored their relationships and reconciled the contradictions by distinguishing between narcissistic admiration and rivalry facets, as well as investigating the bidirectional relationships between narcissism and prosocial behaviors, and the mediating effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction/frustration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Psychiatry
November 2024
Rural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Background: Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is associated with a complex interplay of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors. In this case report, we discuss the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the development of NPD in adulthood.
Case Presentation: Here, we report a clinical case of NPD to illustrate how ACEs, particularly physical and emotional neglect, combined with early life parental overvaluation, can impair emotional regulation and self-worth, contributing to the development of narcissistic traits.
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