Citation

Kinrade C, Hart W, Lambert JT. Pers. Individ. Dif. 2022; 189: e111518.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.paid.2022.111518

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Prior research has shown that, following ego-threatening provocation, effects of grandiose narcissism on aggression and hostile goals are weakened as self-esteem increases. This study investigated if a close correlate of self-esteem, mental toughness, is actually responsible for weakening effects of grandiose narcissism on aggression and hostile goals following ego-threatening provocation. After completing personality measures, participants (N = 444) read vignettes depicting lower or higher ego-threatening provocation. As hypothesized, grandiose narcissism related more weakly to anticipated aggression and hostile goals at higher (vs. lower) mental toughness, regardless of provocation level. Further analyses revealed that the mental toughness facet of confidence, specifically, moderated these relationships between grandiose narcissism and the two outcomes. When considering self-esteem and confidence jointly, confidence continued to moderate effects of grandiose narcissism on the two outcomes, whereas self-esteem did not. These findings support the role of confidence, specifically, as a buffer for aggressive and hostile responses following ego-threatening provocation in individuals with elevated grandiose narcissism.

Language: en

Keywords

aggression; grandiose narcissism; mental toughness; personality; self-esteem