Full Project – Relationship Between Mental Health And Narcissism

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), narcissists have a hard time empathizing with others, have an exaggerated sense of their own worth, and require a lot of praise and praise from others. While a healthy dose of narcissism is possible, too much of it can be detrimental to your psyche and your relationships. The purpose of this research is to investigate the association between narcissism and psychological well-being, paying special attention to the pernicious outcomes of a too narcissistic personality.

Based on the Greek story of Narcissus, who was enamored with his own image in a pool of water (Campbell & Foster, 2007), the term “narcissism” was coined. Narcissism, as defined by psychologists Campbell and Campbell (2009), is a personality trait marked by an inflated sense of self-importance, an insatiable want for praise and approval, and an inability or unwillingness to empathize with other people’s feelings. There are two kind of narcissism: the healthy kind and the dysfunctional kind. Self-confidence, autonomy, and happy feelings are all hallmarks of the adaptive narcissist.

Negative consequences, including difficulties in interpersonal relationships, drug misuse, and mental health disorders, are associated with maladaptive narcissism, which is defined by excessive self-centredness, exploitative behavior, and a lack of empathy for others (Pincus & Lukowitsky, 2010). Anxiety, sadness, and drug misuse have all been linked to narcissism in studies (Barry et al., 2007; Rose et al., 2013).

High-narcissists are more prone to experience anxiety and sadness, according to research by Rose and colleagues (2013). There are a number of reasons why extreme narcissism is bad for one’s mental health. Narcissism’s hallmark lack of empathy is one contributing cause. When someone is narcissistic, they don’t see others as people; they see them as something they can manipulate to get what they want (Campbell & Foster, 2007).

Relationship problems, as well as loneliness and isolation, might result from this. Narcissists often resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms including substance addiction and dangerous behavior (Pincus & Lukowitsky, 2010). Anxiety and despair are only two of the mental health conditions that might be made worse by these actions. Studies have also indicated that people with high levels of narcissism have more trouble maintaining healthy friendships and love partnerships.

Infidelity and breakups were among the unfavorable outcomes predicted by narcissism in a research conducted by Barry and colleagues in 2007. There are psychological and interpersonal costs to excessive narcissism. High narcissism has been linked to an increased risk of mental health problems like anxiety and depression, as well as interpersonal challenges in both romantic and platonic relationships. To develop effective therapies for people with excessive narcissism and to better understand the mechanisms underlying the link between narcissism and mental health, further study is needed.

One’s mental health is directly linked to who they are as a person and the choices they make in life. Narcissism is one of the personality traits associated with poor mental health. According to the diagnostic criteria established by Campbell, Foster, and Finkel (2002), narcissism is a personality disorder characterized by an exaggerated feeling of self-importance, a lack of empathy, and extreme self-centeredness.

Narcissism is quite common; Miller, Gentile, Wilson, and Campbell (2013) estimate a 6.2% incidence in the general American population. Researchers have shown links between narcissism and negative psychological effects like sadness, anxiety, and interpersonal tension. Narcissists, for instance, are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than those who lack these characteristics (Barry, Grafeman, Adler, & Pickard, 2007).

Furthermore, interpersonal difficulties, such as difficulties maintaining positive relationships with others, have been linked to high levels of narcissism (Bainter & Richey, 2017). However, some studies have shown that different forms of narcissism have different associations with psychological well-being. In contrast, vulnerable narcissism (characterized by insecurity and hypersensitivity) was associated with fewer mental health issues than grandiose narcissism (characterized by a strong sense of self-importance and entitlement; Kaufman, Crowell, & Joiner, 2015).

Narcissism and mental health may also be affected by demographics like age, gender, and cultural standards. Narcissism, for instance, has been observed to vary by gender, with males exhibiting more grandiosity and women more vulnerability (Bubak, Paulhus, & Konrath, 2015). Narcissism’s manifestation and interpretation may also be influenced by cultural norms about individuality and collectivism (Afshar Jahanshahi, Behzadnia, & Hejazi, 2016).

References:

Campbell, W. K., Foster, J. D., & Finkel, E. J. (2002). Narcissism and commitment in romantic relationships: An investment model analysis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28, 484-495.

Miller, J. D., Gentile, B., Wilson, L., & Campbell, W. K. (2013). Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and the DSM-5 pathological personality trait model. Journal of Personality Assessment, 95, 284-290.

Barry, C. T., Grafeman, S. J., Adler, K. K., & Pickard, J. D. (2007). The relations among narcissism, self-esteem, and delinquency in a sample of at-risk adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 933-942.

Bainter, S. A., & Richey, J. A. (2017). The effects of narcissistic traits on the quality and stability of romantic relationships: A longitudinal study. Journal of Personality, 85, 163-173.

Kaufman, E. A., Crowell, J. A., & Joiner, T. E., Jr. (2015). Gender differences in narcissism and its relationship to emotional distress. Journal of Personality Disorders, 29, 290-307.

Bubak, B. M., Paulhus, D. L., & Konrath, S. (2015). Gender differences in narcissism: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 141, 261-310.

Afshar Jahanshahi, A., Behzadnia, B., & Hejazi, E. (2016). The relationship between narcissism and psychological well-being with respect to gender and culture. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 47, 1069-1074.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th edition. Washington, DC: Author.

Barry, C. T., Grafeman, S. J., Adler, K. K., & Pickard, J. D. (2007). The relations among narcissism, self-esteem, and romantic relationships: A test of the narcissistic paradox. Journal of Research in Personality, 41(4), 785–794.

Campbell, W. K., & Campbell, C. D. (2009). On the self-regulatory dynamics created by the peculiar benefits and costs of narcissism: A contextual reinforcement model and examination of leadership. Self and Identity, 8(3), 214-232.

Campbell, W. K., & Foster, J. D. (2007). The narcissistic self: Background, an extended agency model, and ongoing controversies. In C. Sedikides & S. Spencer (Eds.), Frontiers in social psychology: The self (pp. 115–133). New York: Psychology Press.

Pincus, A. L., & Lukowitsky, M. R. (2010). Pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6, 421–446.

Rose, P., Daly, P., & Williams, J. (2013). A model of vulnerability to psychopathology: Conflicting personality tendencies and mental health risk. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 5(2), 101-108.

Full Project – Relationship Between Mental Health And Narcissism