Narcissism and Intimate Partner Violence Using Information and Communication Technology in Japan.

Purpose: Marital violence and violence by non-marital partners are serious problems in Japan, and an increased incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) using information and communication technology has been observed. Narcissism is a risk factor for IPV and is correlated with aggressive behavior in ego-threatening situations. Narcissism appears in two main types, namely, grandiose and vulnerable, which differ in the expression of aggressive behavior. This study examined anxious ego threat regarding the possible failure of a dating relationship and investigated whether the two types of narcissism lead to cyber dating abuse (CDA) in this type of ego-threat situation. Method: We conducted an internet questionnaire survey of 603 unmarried Japanese people (71% female, 29% male) aged 15 to 29 who had a dating partner. Results: In men, when relationship anxiety was high, grandiose narcissism predicted CDA, such as direct aggression to annoy or hurt the partner and intrusive behaviors, such as persistent messaging to track the partner. Grandiose narcissism was not associated with aggressive behavior toward a dating partner in the absence of anxiety concerning the dating relationship. Vulnerable narcissism was not associated with aggressive behavior toward a dating partner, regardless of the presence or absence of anxiety concerning the dating relationship. In women, no association was found between CDA and narcissism. Conclusion: In considering narcissism as a risk factor for CDA, it is insufficient to examine the relationship between narcissism and CDA. Both types of narcissism and threat to self-evaluation must be examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]