Search Results (42)

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

The compulsive and unregulated use of social media, also known as problematic social media use (PSMU), has raised increasing concerns about its detrimental impact on psychological well-being and daily functioning among young individuals. Understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying this behavioural pattern is essential, with personality traits emerging as a particularly relevant area of investigation. While some personality traits, such as narcissism, have received substantial attention, others remain overlooked. Through a cross-sectional design, this study examined how trait mindfulness, as captured in terms of awareness and acceptance, predicts PSMU while accounting for sociodemographics (age, sex, and education) and both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. A total of 180 participants (mean_age = 22.16 years; SD_age = 2.47 years; 95 females) completed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-13, the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale, the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale, and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Regression analyses indicated that only the acceptance of trait mindfulness significantly predicted PSMU. These findings suggest that cultivating a non-judgmental and open stance towards internal experiences may protect against PSMU through affect regulation and emotional acceptance. Full article

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

(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

Background/Objectives: Emerging evidence suggests a role of immune–inflammatory mechanisms in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, particularly in the early stages of the illness. Cytokines, as key mediators of inflammation, may affect brain function and clinical presentation. Drug-naive patients with first-episode psychosis (FEDN) offer a unique opportunity to investigate these associations free from confounding pharmacological effects. Methods: This study included 38 patients with drug-naive first episode psychosis and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured using ELISA. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the PANSS scale. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U tests, Spearman’s correlations, and ROC curve analysis. Results: Significantly elevated serum levels of IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-10 were observed in the FEDN group compared to the controls (p < 0.01), while IL-6 levels did not differ significantly. IL-2 exhibited the highest discriminatory power in differentiating the patients from the controls (AUC = 0.917; 95% CI: 0.759–1000.0; p < 0.001). IL-1β levels positively correlated with negative and general psychopathology symptoms, including hostility and grandiosity. IL-10 was associated with volitional disturbance and overall PANSS severity. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the relevance of immune dysregulation in the early stages of psychosis and highlight the potential of specific cytokines, particularly IL-2 and IL-1β, as peripheral biomarkers. Their diagnostic utility and correlation with symptom dimensions suggest a promising role in the development of precision psychiatry approaches, including early detection strategies and individualised therapeutic targeting. Longitudinal studies are needed to validate these findings and to assess their prognostic significance. Full article

This study aims to analyze maladaptive schemas through the Young Schema Questionnaire—Short Form 3 among 895 high school students, with an average age of 18.15 years, in relation to the potentially traumatic experience of being the victim of violence inflicted by family members through hitting and beating and in connection with violent behavior (in and outside school). Almost half of the students reported that, in their families, there were prolonged problems in the couple relationship of their parents/caregivers, and almost 40% of these students were involved from time to time in at least one form of violence in or outside school, with the highest share of this violence resulting from physical aggression by hitting and pushing and verbal or emotional abuse. A factor analysis was performed using a unifactorial model and a mediation model, and it indicated that the presence of trauma increases the total violence score. A higher violence score was recorded in students who were subjected to family violence (t(890) = −6.267, p < 0.001). The schemas that proved to be the most relevant for the violence factor were those of Punitiveness (PU: 0.89) and Mistrust/Abuse (MA: 0.77), followed by the schemas of Emotional Inhibition (EI: 0.68), Unrelenting Standards/Hypercriticalness (US: 0.63), and Entitlement/Grandiosity (ET: 0.58). The mediation that the Punitiveness schema achieves between victimization in the family and subsequent aggressive behavior is based on the internalization of the punitive parental figure and the victim’s development of the belief that violence is the only answer when others do not meet their expectations. Full article

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

Prior research has yielded inconsistent findings regarding the association between narcissism and creativity, possibly due to the neglect of different narcissism subtypes. The present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between narcissism and creativity by introducing two distinct subtypes of narcissism, namely grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. A total of 571 employees (267 males, 304 females) from high-tech enterprises across 26 provinces in China completed measures of narcissism, creative performance, creative states, and self-esteem, following explicit instructions. The results indicated that participants with grandiose narcissism reported significantly higher levels of creativity states and fluency in creativity performance than those with vulnerable narcissism. Self-esteem mediated the relationship between both subtypes of narcissism and creativity. The implications of the revealed differential effects of grandiosity and vulnerability on creativity in the workplace were also discussed. Full article

This article examines the functional transformation of Buddhist temples from religious edifices to elements of the political landscape in Northern Wei Luoyang, in order to elucidate the grandiose portrayal of these temples in geographical records. The proliferation of Buddhism significantly altered the spatial configuration of the capital city, previously dominated by imperial architectural complexes. Buddhist temples emerged as emblematic structures of Luoyang, surpassing palaces in prominence due to their extensive occupation of urban space, enhancement of the empire’s international standing, and involvement in the political vicissitudes of Northern Wei. Yang Xuanzhi drew upon the literary techniques of Han fu 漢賦, particularly its elaborate descriptive style, to articulate the sentiments of the emperor’s subjects and extol the ruler’s virtue while subtly conveying criticism and advice. By shaping Buddhist temples into imperial landscapes, Yang Xuanzhi conferred on Luoyang a legitimacy comparable to that of the Han Dynasty. The evolving social functions and literary representations of Buddhist temples during the Northern Wei Dynasty reflect the profound integration of Buddhism, politics, and literature. Full article

Background and Objectives: The use of anabolic–androgenic steroids (AASs) by competitive and recreational athletes has been studied and well documented. There are numerous studies showing its effects on personality traits and risky behaviors like aggression. The relationship between AAS use, aggression, and narcissism is complex and intricate. We examined this relationship in male bodybuilders who use AASs. Materials and Methods: A total of 319 healthy subjects aged 18–44 years (33.4 ± 9.4) who have been regularly training at bodybuilding for at least 3 years participated voluntarily in the study and completed a demographic data inventory, the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory Short Form (FFNI-SF), and the Buss–Perry Aggression Scale anonymously. Demographic data were given as percentages, comparisons of aggression and narcissism scores according to AAS use were performed by using an independent sample t test, and effects of narcissism and aggression levels on AAS use was assessed by using logistic regression analysis. All analyses were performed by using SPSS Statistics 22.0. Results: Results showed that AAS users had significantly higher scores on the overall FFNI-SF Scale (p < 0.001) and all sub-dimensions of narcissism (p < 0.001) and on the overall Buss–Perry Aggression Scale (p < 0.001) and all sub-dimensions of aggression (p < 0.001). It was also shown that there were significant and positive correlations between the FFNI-SF overall score (p < 0.001) and both the vulnerable narcissism and grandiose narcissism sub-dimensions (p < 0.001) and the scores of the Buss–Perry Aggression Scale (p < 0.001), physical aggression (p < 0.001), anger (p < 0.001), hostility (p < 0.001), and verbal aggression (p < 0.001) sub-dimensions. Conclusions: These results show a strong relation between AAS use, narcissism, and aggression in bodybuilders. However, it is not clear whether AAS use leads to aggression and narcissism or whether narcissistic and/or aggressive people tend to use AASs. Furthermore, including a lot of potential third variables shows that it does not have to be either one or the other way around. There is a need to conduct future studies to determine this causality. Full article

Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar has been detected early on by film critics as a Baroque filmmaker, a qualification to which he has agreed in interviews. This promotion of his style is certainly questionable as the word ‘Baroque’ is often used outside of its artistic and historical contexts. It is undeniable, however, that there are many Baroque features in his tragicomedy. One of the key aspects that ties Almodóvar’s early films to Baroque art is their exaggerated and melodramatic storytelling. Like Baroque art, which often featured grandiose and emotionally charged narratives, Almodóvar’s films are filled with intense emotions, complex relationships, and larger-than-life characters. This exaggerated portrayal of human emotions and experiences is a hallmark of Baroque aesthetics, which sought to evoke strong emotional responses from the audience. This paper seeks to focus exclusively on the rise of the director’s style in the last two decades of the 20th century that corresponds to Spain’s problematic and somewhat tragic transition from dictatorship to democracy and explore the ‘Baroque transitions’ that led Almodóvar to national, European and international recognition prior to the obtention of the Academy Awards he received for “All about my mother” in 2000. After defining the Baroqueness of his early filmography, this article will take a closer look at the ricochet trajectory he designed for actors such as Carmen Maura, Victoria Abril, and Antonio Banderas, who will all act in several corresponding roles and embody characters in transition, before becoming emblematic for the public. In the tradition of the Spanish Baroque, Almodóvar will develop his tragic outlook on his ever-changing culture around these iconic actors who will, in turn, unfold the complexity of the transition years for Spanish women and men. Full article

This perspective presents an account of the underlying features associated with the photofading of organic colorants. Photofading is commonly known to the scientific community as photodegradation or photooxidation, while in earlier times the more grandiose term “light fastness” was commonplace. This is a subject of immense diversity and significance, but there are many challenges to be faced when attempting mechanistic reasoning. The text is illustrated by descriptions of several systems taken from the scientific literature, together with anecdotes related to the principal researchers. The chemical challenges to be overcome in order to design photostable materials are outlined and reference is made to the natural world. It is stressed that the journal Colorants would welcome submissions in this field. Full article

Procrastination is generally regarded as a dysfunctional tendency to postpone tasks, due to its consequences on performance and psychological well-being. Previous research has indicated that it is linked to perfectionism and narcissism, but with mixed results. The present study explored the interaction between procrastination, perceived parental expectations, multidimensional perfectionism, and narcissism in a sample of 548 Italian young adults aged 18–35 years (M = 23.9; SD = 4.3). Participants completed an online survey consisting of a sociodemographic questionnaire and psychometric measures assessing the constructs of interest. The results showed that: (a) procrastination was positively correlated with socially prescribed perfectionism only, which, in turn, was positively correlated with perceived parental expectations and criticism, and both narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability; (b) perceived parental expectations and criticism and narcissistic vulnerability had a positive effect on socially prescribed perfectionism, while procrastination had a negative one; and (c) narcissistic vulnerability mediated the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and procrastination. Taken together, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the link between procrastination, perfectionism, and narcissism in young adults, and highlight the relevance of contemporary parenting styles and the current sociocultural background for understanding dilatory behaviors. Full article

Interreligious engagement (IE) has been experienced and theorized mainly as the pursuit of a shared respectful awareness of the beliefs, practices, and social experiences of multiple religious communities. In rare instances, it has been possible to create architecture specifically to foster IE, as in the “tri-faith” Abrahamic campus in Omaha and the Berlin House of One. The theme is: Here we are, accepting that we share the world. Another form of IE that deserves to attract more interest is multireligious collaboration in civic work (addressing homelessness, urban blight, illiteracy, etc.). Some adherents of the intrinsically cosmopolitan “world” religions are actively cosmopolitan to the extent of seeking this engagement. The theme is: Let us share the work of the world, including sharing our religiously inflected processing of what the practical issues facing us are. There is a new initiative of this sort in my city, Jackson, Mississippi, named (from M. L. King) the “Beloved Community”. An architectural thought experiment may prove helpful in articulating the ideals for such an endeavor. What would be the physical desiderata for its headquarters? Let us imagine a new downtown building, The Meeting, dedicated to housing meetings where mixed religious groups learn about civic issues and coordinate efforts to address them. Full interreligious sharing of a space seems to require a neutral design lacking any definite religious inspiration. But there are nonsectarian ways to create an appreciably special, non-ordinary space, as in courtrooms and classrooms. Could a civic IE headquarters be special, expressive of practical optimism, and contain a sufficient religious allusion to qualify as a “next-to-sacred space” in which religious actors felt supported in the civic extension of their religious lives? I offer suggestions for discussion, including (1) a pavilion-style building suggestive of being set up for a special purpose—not soaringly grandiose but with a vertical feature such as a central roof lantern; (2) at least one major porch, with benches and tables; (3) an outside water fountain with public water supply (a historical allusion to the Islamic sabil); (4) inside, right-sized meeting rooms around the glass-walled periphery; (5) a big “living room” lounge in the center, usable for larger meetings, with access to a kitchen, and with a big project board for tracking work completed and work in hand next to a large map of the city; (6) a moderate descent of several steps into each meeting room so that there is a feeling of commitment in attending a meeting and a sense of challenge in going forth from one; (7) otherwise a main floor levelness and openness facilitating movement in and out, as in a train station; and (8) upstairs small offices for religious and other qualifying organizations. Answering the aesthetic and practical questions these suggestions raise takes us into imagining civic IE more concretely. Full article

The article analyzes the mythological concept of Slavic paganism developed by Alexander Afanas’ev in his three-volume study Poetic Views of the Slavs on Nature: An Attempt at a Comparative Study of Slavic Traditions and Beliefs in Connection with the Mythical Tales of Other Related Peoples (1865–1869). In this book, Afanas’ev established numerous parallels between the pagan myths of the Slavs and other Indo-European peoples and reconstructed mythological images of the world tree, the tree of life, and the world egg. He also reconstructed myths about the sacred marriage between heaven and earth; the creation of the world from the body of the first man and the creation of man from the natural elements; the dying and resurrected god of vegetation and fertility; and the duel between the god of thunderstorms and his earthly adversary; as well as dualistic myths about the struggle between the forces of light and the forces of darkness and about the creation of the earth. Afanas’ev also explored enduring metaphorical pairs such as death–dream, battle–wedding feast, thunderstorm–battle, and so on. Depending on the readers’ points of view, they can appreciate the book as a grandiose compendium of folklore and historical-ethnographic materials; as a scholarly work devoted to Slavic mythology; as a symbolarium of folk culture; and as a beautiful fairy tale about the pagan past. Although Afanas’ev’s book has all the attributes of a scholarly publication, it can also be read as a work of fiction in which the author does not so much analyze mythology as he tries to present the point of view of a primitive poet–artist. Full article