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Behavioral Sciences
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Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology
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Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 10523

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elias Tsakanikos

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Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Crete, 74150 Rethymno, Greece
Interests: cognitive psychopathology; individual differences; cognition and emotion
Dr. Mark Hardaker

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Guest Editor
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
Interests: narcissistic personality disorder; narcissism; psychotherapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Narcissism, a personality trait characterized by grandiosity, self-focus, and a need for admiration, varies significantly among individuals.  This special issue aims to explore the spectrum of individual differences in narcissism, from personality traits to pathological manifestations in Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). It seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how narcissism varies among individuals, the factors influencing these differences, and the implications for personal, social, and professional functioning.

Topics of interest: theoretical perspectives on narcissism; narcissism as a multi-level contruct; state and trait narcissism; the continuum from personality traits to psychopathological manifestations of narcissism; evolutionary, developmental, cognitive and psychodynamic approaches; ;  narcissism and self-esteem; narcissism and self-regulation; narcissism  as part of the ‘dark tetrad’: narcissism, psychopathy, machiavellianism, and sadism; cognitive biases and information processing in narcissism;  cognitive and emotional empathy deficits in narcissism; coping mechanisms and defense strategies; attachment styles in narcissism;  differentiating between adaptive and maladaptive narcissistic triats; advances in the measurement of narcissistic  traits including Ecological Momentary Assessment  and clinical symptoms in Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD); cross-cultural validation of assessment tools; individual differences in narcissistic traits; variability in grandiose versus vulnerable narcissism; impact on different developmental trajectories from childhood to adulthood; interpersonal relationships and social functioning; forms of narcissistic agggression;  NPD overlap with other personality disorders; co-occurring mental health conditions; impact of narcissistic traits on societal trends, such as social media; narcissistic traits in workplace dynamics and leadership;  public perceptions of narcissism and mental health awareness

Submission Guidelines

Authors are invited to submit original empirical studies, theoretical reviews, meta-analyses, and case reports. Manuscripts should adhere to the journal's standard submission guidelines and will undergo peer review.

This special issue will contribute to the field by:

  • Providing a platform for multidisciplinary research on narcissism.
  • Enhancing understanding of the complexity and variability of narcissistic traits.
  • Informing professional practice with evidence-based insights.
  • Highlighting the societal implications of narcissism in the modern world.

This special issue will serve as a useful resource for psychologists,  psychiatrists, health professionals, HR specialists and academic researchers interested in narcissism. By examining individual differences in narcissistic traits and disorders, the issue aims to foster a deeper understanding and an integrated approach to academic research and professional practice in this area.

Dr. Elias Tsakanikos
Dr. Mark Hardaker
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • narcissism
  • narcissistic traits
  • narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)
  • individual differences
  • personality
  • psychopathology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 725 KB  
Article
Narcissism in Action: Perceptions, Team Dynamics, and Performance in Naturalistic Escape Room Settings
by Reece D. Bush-Evans, Claire M. Hart, Sylwia Z. Cisek, Liam P. Satchell and Constantine Sedikides
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1461; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111461 - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
We investigated narcissism in a naturalistic social context. Specifically, we examined how individuals high in admirative and rivalrous narcissism are perceived in team dynamics. Participants (n = 101) worked in small teams (k = 23 teams) during escape room-based tasks. Using [...] Read more.
We investigated narcissism in a naturalistic social context. Specifically, we examined how individuals high in admirative and rivalrous narcissism are perceived in team dynamics. Participants (n = 101) worked in small teams (k = 23 teams) during escape room-based tasks. Using a round-robin design, we observed alignment between self- and peer-ratings on interpersonal traits. Those high on admirative narcissism were perceived as confident but overestimated their likeability, whereas those high on rivalrous narcissism were perceived as aggressive and lazy. Teams characterized by high levels of rivalry exhibited reduced team cohesion, which in turn was associated with poorer team performance. There were no team-level effects for narcissistic admiration. The research advances understanding of admirative and rivalrous narcissism by simulating real-time teamwork in escape rooms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology)
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14 pages, 285 KB  
Article
Comparing Narcissism Measures in Their Confounding with Self-Esteem and Examining the Consequences for Their Relations with Personality
by Tobias Altmann and Marcus Roth
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1456; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111456 - 26 Oct 2025
Viewed by 170
Abstract
Measures of narcissism often overlap with global self-esteem, risking that observed associations with outcomes may reflect associations of self-regard rather than actual narcissistic dispositions. The present study examined whether common narcissism instruments differ in their overlap with self-esteem and how this alters their [...] Read more.
Measures of narcissism often overlap with global self-esteem, risking that observed associations with outcomes may reflect associations of self-regard rather than actual narcissistic dispositions. The present study examined whether common narcissism instruments differ in their overlap with self-esteem and how this alters their associations with key personality domains. A sample of 337 participants completed multiple measures of narcissism, a global self-esteem measure as the control variable, and assessments of the Big Five, empathy, and aggression as personality correlates. Our results showed that overlap the measures of narcissism share with self-esteem varied considerably. Vulnerable scales showed the largest overlap and the greatest changes in correlations with the personality correlates after controlling for self-esteem. Grandiose and antagonistic measures were generally less affected, though noteworthy differences emerged between these instruments as well. We conclude that self-esteem overlap is a substantive but uneven measurement issue. Researchers cannot assume measures to be interchangeable. Our findings suggest that in order to isolate narcissistic dispositions from self-regard, researchers may need to select less affected instruments and/or report (additional) analyses controlling for self-esteem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology)
18 pages, 322 KB  
Article
Dark Triad, Depression, Anhedonia and Alexithymia: The Role of Sex Differences
by Daniel French, Gwenolé Loas and Matthieu Hein
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15101369 - 7 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1701
Abstract
The Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) has been traditionally associated with externalizing behaviors and a lack of empathy. However, emerging evidence suggests that these traits also relate to internal emotional vulnerabilities (such as depression, alexithymia, and anhedonia). This study aimed to examine [...] Read more.
The Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) has been traditionally associated with externalizing behaviors and a lack of empathy. However, emerging evidence suggests that these traits also relate to internal emotional vulnerabilities (such as depression, alexithymia, and anhedonia). This study aimed to examine the association between Dark Triad traits and emotional variabilities (alexithymia and anhedonia) in the general population, with a particular focus on sex differences. A total of 492 French-speaking adults completed a battery of validated self-report measures online, including the SD3fr, BDI-II, TAS-20, and PAS. Comparative and multivariate analyses were conducted separately for males and females. High SD3 scores were associated with greater depression, alexithymia (especially difficulty in identifying feelings), and anhedonia in the overall sample. These associations remained significant after adjusting for depression severity. Sex differences emerged: in females, high Dark Triad traits were strongly linked to emotional dysfunction, while no such associations were observed in males. These findings support the presence of sex-specific emotional correlates of the Dark Triad, particularly in females, where Machiavellianism and psychopathy were linked to emotional distress. Clinical implications are discussed in light of hormonal, sociocultural, and emotional regulation differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology)
23 pages, 375 KB  
Article
Climbing the Dark Ladder: How Status and Inclusion Aspirations, Perceived Attainment, and Behaviors Relate to the Dark Triad
by Nikhila Mahadevan and Christian H. Jordan
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 1221; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091221 - 8 Sep 2025
Viewed by 678
Abstract
Individual differences in the Dark Triad may partially reflect differences in interpersonal motivational patterns such as a strong desire for status. These studies examine how desires for status and inclusion, perceived attainment of status and inclusion, and status-seeking and inclusion-seeking behavior relate to [...] Read more.
Individual differences in the Dark Triad may partially reflect differences in interpersonal motivational patterns such as a strong desire for status. These studies examine how desires for status and inclusion, perceived attainment of status and inclusion, and status-seeking and inclusion-seeking behavior relate to the Dark Triad (grandiose narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy). Two studies (N = 591) find that individuals high in Dark Triad traits generally desire status, feel they have attained high status, and report behaving in status-seeking ways (once desires for inclusion, perceived attainment of inclusion, and inclusion-seeking behavior are controlled, respectively). They generally do not desire inclusion, do not feel they have attained inclusion, and do not report behaving in inclusion-seeking ways (once desires for status, perceived attainment of status, and status-seeking behavior are controlled, respectively). These associations are largely observed for the dimensions of the Dark Triad involving agentic extraversion and antagonism, but not for those involving impulsivity. This research delineates the motivational, social, and behavioral profile of the Dark Triad and its dimensions with implications for understanding the “core” of the Dark Triad. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology)
20 pages, 732 KB  
Article
Am I (Not) Perfect? Fear of Failure Mediates the Link Between Vulnerable Narcissism and Perfectionism
by Sabrina Schneider, Sabrina Kornberger, Angela Aja Aßmuth and Andreas Mokros
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 1214; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091214 - 6 Sep 2025
Viewed by 2212
Abstract
(1) Background: Perfectionism, generally conceptualized as a striving for flawlessness, can lead to maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Both grandiose narcissism (GN) and vulnerable narcissism (VN) represent relevant personality dispositions for perfectionism. There is reason to assume that GN and VN predispose to [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Perfectionism, generally conceptualized as a striving for flawlessness, can lead to maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Both grandiose narcissism (GN) and vulnerable narcissism (VN) represent relevant personality dispositions for perfectionism. There is reason to assume that GN and VN predispose to different forms of perfectionist cognition and behavior. It remains unclear, however, whether GN and VN are indeed distinctly associated with different aspects of perfectionism and—if so—why. (2) Methods: We explored relationships between GN, VN, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism in a convenience sample of 210 adults (59% female) and further examined whether these relationships were mediated by distinct aspects of fear of failure, which has been identified as a critical driver for perfectionism. Moreover, we assessed implicit failure avoidance by means of response latencies obtained in a lexical approach-avoidance task. (3) Results: Our results indicate that perfectionist styles discriminate GN from VN whereby GN predict other-oriented and VN predict socially prescribed perfectionism. The latter relationship was largely mediated by social aspects of fear of failure (e.g., the fear of important others losing interest). In contrast, fear of failure did not explain the link between GN and other-oriented perfectionism. Furthermore, only VN was exclusively related to faster implicit failure avoidance. (4) Conclusions: This pattern of results suggests distinct mechanisms for GN and VN in the context of perfectionism. Our study provides support for the theoretical separation of GN and VN as relatively distinct phenotypes of narcissism and adds to clinical research linking GN and VN with different types of psychopathology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology)
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21 pages, 532 KB  
Article
Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing
by Claire M. Hart, Katherine B. Carnelley, Laura M. Vowels and Tessa Thejas Thomas
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 853; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15070853 - 24 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1769
Abstract
We conducted a diary study to examine how narcissism influences reactions to daily perceived partner phubbing (N = 196). We examined relationships between two facets of narcissism (rivalry and admiration) and personal and relational well-being, reactions to phubbing, reports of retaliation, and [...] Read more.
We conducted a diary study to examine how narcissism influences reactions to daily perceived partner phubbing (N = 196). We examined relationships between two facets of narcissism (rivalry and admiration) and personal and relational well-being, reactions to phubbing, reports of retaliation, and motives for retaliation. On average, participants higher in rivalry reported lower self-esteem and higher depressed and anxious mood, whilst participants higher in admiration reported greater relationship satisfaction, higher self-esteem, lower depressed and anxious mood, and lower levels of anger/frustration. These patterns held regardless of whether they were phubbed or not. In response to partner phubbing, participants higher in rivalry reported, on average, greater curiosity, resentment, conflict, and retaliation. On days when participants reported higher phubbing, those with higher rivalry reported greater curiosity, while those higher in admiration reported greater conflict. When retaliating to phubbing, those higher in rivalry did so, on average, to get back at their partner and to seek support and approval from others, whereas those higher in admiration were less likely to report boredom as a reason for retaliating. Our findings contribute to the sparse literature on narcissism and phubbing by showing how narcissists respond to being phubbed. We discuss how phubbing may exacerbate their relational difficulties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology)
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24 pages, 1185 KB  
Article
Narcissism and Anti-Immigrant Attitudes: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice?
by Virgil Zeigler-Hill, Angelina Toma, Emily Thomas and Avi Besser
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040451 - 1 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1547
Abstract
Narcissism has been linked to negative attitudes toward certain outgroups. The present studies examined the associations that narcissistic traits—extraverted narcissism, antagonistic narcissism, and neurotic narcissism—had with anti-immigrant attitudes. More specifically, we were interested in the possibility that these associations may be mediated by [...] Read more.
Narcissism has been linked to negative attitudes toward certain outgroups. The present studies examined the associations that narcissistic traits—extraverted narcissism, antagonistic narcissism, and neurotic narcissism—had with anti-immigrant attitudes. More specifically, we were interested in the possibility that these associations may be mediated by social worldviews and ideological attitudes. Across three studies, the results indicated that extraverted and antagonistic narcissism had positive indirect associations with anti-immigrant attitudes through the competitive social worldview via the ideological attitudes of Right-Wing Authoritarianism and Social Dominance Orientation. In contrast, neurotic narcissism was negatively associated with anti-immigrant attitudes, though this relationship was not consistently mediated by social worldviews or ideological attitudes. These findings suggest that individuals with high levels of extraverted and antagonistic narcissism may endorse a competitive worldview, which aligns with negative attitudes toward immigrants who may be perceived as threats to their social status. This underscores the role of narcissism, social worldviews, and ideological attitudes in potentially shaping anti-immigrant sentiment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Individual Differences in Narcissism: From Personality to Psychopathology)
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