The mystery of communion in narcissism: The success-as-a-flaw effect

• Authors: Krystyna Drat-Ruszczak , Róża Bazińska , Aleksandra Niemyjska
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In the present paper we consider the specific relationship between communal and agentic functioning of narcissistic individuals. The study was aimed to test whether narcissist’s aggression is due to not only negative information about their agency but also positive information about their communion. Whereas the first effect is well- documented in empirical studies, the second effect has been revealed in our prior research. The results of the present study confirmed both effects: negative information about one’s agency increased aggressive tendencies (operationalized as a display of demeaning behavior) and decreased state self-esteem, while positive information about one’s communion resulted only in displaced aggression. The aggressive response to positive communal information is discussed as the success-as-aflaw effect, which we mean as inverse of the failure-as-an asset effect. According to the success-as-a-flaw effect, positive outcomes in the communal domain, considered by narcissists to be an evidence of low-status, are threatening for the grandiose self, based on the domain of agency. The social cognitive and clinical approach is employed to interpret these results.

Keywords

EN

narcissism; communion; agency; displaced aggression; state self-esteem

• Publisher: Committee for Psychological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Polish Psychological Bulletin
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 453-463

Dates

published

2014-12-01

online

2014-12-16

Contributors

author

Krystyna Drat-Ruszczak

• University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Sopot Campus, Polna 16/20, 81-745 Sopot

author

Róża Bazińska

• University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Sopot Campus, Polna 16/20, 81-745 Sopot

author

Aleksandra Niemyjska

• University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Sopot Campus, Polna 16/20, 81-745 Sopot

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/ppb-2014-0055