Search

Traits of pathological narcissism are linked with dysfunctional interpersonal processes. This intensive longitudinal study will investigate how pathological narcissism and interpersonal perceptions shape patients’ emotions during psychotherapy, specifically shame. There is no current data available: patients enrolled in individual psychotherapy will be assessed for narcissistic traits prior to entering a 17-week experience sampling assessment, collecting in-treatment emotions and perceptions of dominance (of self and therapist) after each psychotherapy session. We anticipate analyzing preliminary data from at least 50 participants using multilevel modeling. Patients who perceive themselves as less dominant than usual compared to their therapist (i.e., patients experiencing a higher-than-usual dominance dierential) are expected to report higher shame; traits of vulnerable narcissism are expected to amplify this association (cross-level interaction). The study will shed new light on the emotional and interpersonal dynamics associated with traits of pathological narcissism in clinical settings.

Withdrawal into fantasy can be a way to avoid conflicts and difficulties in real life and, as such, can represent a defense mechanism, which is traditionally traced back to schizoid/autistic phenomena. At the same time, fantasies of power, success, and ideal love are included among the criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder and represent a central feature of narcissistic pathology when assessed dimensionally. Clinically, grandiose fantasies are believed to compensate for deeper feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability, indicating that they may as well serve defensive purposes. To date, similarities and differences between autistic/schizoid and grandiose fantasies fall short of theoretical coordinates and have not been investigated empirically, nor has the relative role of schizoid and narcissistic traits been addressed in these defenses. The present contribution offers a theoretical discussion on the topic, investigating the role of fantasy in relation to both narcissistic and schizoid functioning. Preliminary empirical data from a nonclinical sample will be also used to investigate the link between maladaptive personality traits and different measures of fantasy. The assessment of fantasy in daily life with an intensive longitudinal design will allow detecting both trait-level and state-level dynamic processes. A specific focus will be on the relative contribution of narcissistic (both grandiose and vulnerable) and schizoid traits in the prediction of fantasy, and on the possibility to empirically discriminate between autistic/schizoid fantasy and fantasies with an explicitly grandiose content. Clinical and research implications will be discussed.

Ghosting is a type of interpersonal rejection involving a unilateral communication interruption without explanation, using technological channels. Vulnerable narcissism and borderline traits can increase sensitivity to interpersonal rejection and reduce tolerance to ambiguity, whereas grandiose narcissism is related to low rejection sensitivity. Yet, the influence of narcissism and borderline on responses to ghosting is unexplored. We examined the influence of pathological personality traits on psychological reactions to direct breakup and ghosting (i.e., ambiguous breakup) in a sample of 604 young adults (mean age = 22.4 ± 2.74). After measuring borderline and narcissistic traits (grandiose and vulnerable), participants were randomly assigned to one of two scenario-based conditions: direct breakup or ghosting events. Negative emotions and state paranoia were assessed after the experimental manipulation. Participants experienced greater negative emotions and state paranoia in the ghosting condition compared to direct breakup. Individuals high in vulnerable narcissism and borderline traits anticipated higher negative emotions and state paranoia. Grandiose narcissism was unrelated to such reactions. Unexpectedly, pathological personality traits did not moderate the effect of breakup ambiguity on individuals' psychological reactions. Findings suggest that the impact of pathological personality traits is reduced in front of such a socially painful stimulus as an ambiguous rejection.

Recent diagnostic developments suggest that paranoia is a transdiagnostic characteristic common to several personality disorders rather than a personality disorder per se. Nonetheless, empirical literature fails to provide comprehensive and univocal findings on whether and how paranoid presentations relate to different personality disorders. In the present scoping review, we map the empirical literature on paranoid presentations in personality disorders, considering the entire spectrum of paranoid manifestations (i.e., the paranoia hierarchy). In selecting original quantitative studies on paranoid presentations in personality-disordered patients, we screened 4,433 records in PsycArticles, PsycInfo and PUBMED. We eventually included 47 eligible studies in the review. Our synthesis indicates consistent empirical evidence of a wide range of paranoid presentations in Paranoid, Schizotypal and Borderline personality disorders. Conversely, little empirical literature exists on paranoid presentations in other personality disorders. Preliminary findings suggest broad-severity paranoid presentations, ranging from milder to severe forms, in Paranoid, Schizotypal and Borderline personality disorders. There is also some evidence of milder forms of paranoia in Avoidant, Antisocial and Narcissistic personality disorders. Conversely, there is poor evidence of paranoid presentations in Schizoid, Histrionic, Dependent or Obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Research gaps and recommendations for improving empirical research on paranoid presentations in personality disorders are discussed.

Introduction: Both variable- and person-centered approaches identify grandiose and vulnerable themes in pathological narcissism (PN). However, person-centered results rely on cross-sectional data, preventing identification of subtypes of individuals through transitory self-states. Methods: We perform a cluster analysis on the joint trajectory of daily ratings of grandiose narcissism (GN) and vulnerable narcissism (VN), collected during a 28-day experience sampling (N = 196 participants). Results: The best partition—identified by multiple criteria—includes three clusters: a “low PN” cluster displays below-average levels of both daily GN and VN; a “high VN” cluster displays average daily GN and above-average levels of daily VN; a “high GN” cluster shows above-average levels of daily GN and below-average levels of daily VN. Significant inter-cluster differences emerge on both daily and trait measures of narcissism, and on trait measures of self-esteem and shame, but less sharply on impairment in personality structure. There is no inter-cluster difference on the variability and instability of daily narcissism. Discussion: We conclude that the constructs of daily GN and VN define corresponding groups of individuals with either high GN or VN, the latter group being more distressed. Yet, this group is also less “pure” in its narcissistic characterization, showing at least some levels of trait and state GN.

Numerous studies have established the importance of body image self-consciousness in predicting sexual distress and dissatisfaction in women. However, there is a dearth of information analyzing whether the same relation applies to men. Sexual perfectionism is a sexual correlate that has shown diverse links with sexual-related outcomes. The aim of the present study was to determine the degree to which certain sexuality-related factors, such as body image self consciousness and sexual perfectionism, and certain personality traits, namely grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits, may be associated with sexual discomfort in men. An online survey including self-report measures of sexual correlates variables and narcissistic personality traits was administered to a sample of 212 men, who provided the data used to investigate these associations. We performed a stepwise regression analysis, including the sexual-specific variables in the first step and vulnerable and grandiose narcissism in the second step. Sexual distress was linked to vulnerable narcissistic features and body image self-consciousness, according to our research. The clinical implications of our findings emphasize the need of evaluating body image concerns and taking personality characteristics into account when addressing sexual difficulties in men.

The authors investigate whether and how borderline and pathological narcissistic traits differ in their associations with trait and state rejection sensitivity, and with affective reactions to experiences of social rejection occurring in daily life. Community adults (N = 189) completed baseline measures of rejection sensitivity, borderline personality, and pathological narcissism, and daily measures of perceived social rejection and affective states for 7 days. Vulnerable narcissism was the main driver of negative anticipated emotions for social rejection. Borderline personality made people prone to experiencing social rejection in daily life. Moreover, borderline personality traits predicted greater self-directed aggressive impulses when experiencing social rejection. Grandiose narcissism showed only a negative association with anticipatory anxiety for rejection. These findings highlight that sensitivity to social rejection is crucial in both borderline personality and pathological narcissism.