Narcissism at different levels of personality functioning

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Emanuel Jauk
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 584727268

The relationship between grandiose and vulnerable aspects of narcissism as a trait has yielded controversy in research and practice. Identifying predictors of narcissistic vulnerability in the general population is extremely important, as it is associated with a plethora of mental disorders, ultimately also suicidal behavior. While the DSM states that extreme grandiosity may or may not be accompanied by vulnerability, our previous research yielded robust evidence for increases in vulnerability beyond +1.35 SD of grandiosity, as evident in correlation increases between trait scales. These are likely indicative of fluctuating grandiose and vulnerable states. However, the correlation between grandiose and vulnerable aspects is small to moderate even at high levels of grandiosity, meaning there must be other factors determining whether or not it is accompanied by vulnerability. Building on self-regulatory models, we assume that variation in personality functioning – basic self-regulatory and interpersonal capacities – may explain why some individuals are highly grandiose yet stable, whereas others are vulnerable. Personality functioning variation might explain nonlinear associations in trait grandiosity and vulnerability, and transitions between grandiose and vulnerable states. In Work Package 1 (WP1), we establish a trait prediction model for narcissistic vulnerability through an interaction of grandiosity and personality functioning. We expect stronger nonlinearity between grandiosity and vulnerability in individuals with lower functioning. We study the relationships between the respective scales, including their self-regulatory dimensions agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic narcissism, and indicators of psychopathology according to the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP), in a large representative sample. In Work Package 2 (WP2), we aim for a mechanistic understanding of how changes between grandiose and vulnerable states depend on personality functioning in situ. A subsample of WP1 participants will perform Ecological Momentary Assessment for two weeks. We will further conduct expert interviews to gain an informant perspective on individual psychosocial realities. WP2 will assess the roles of grandiosity, vulnerability, and personality functioning in daily psychopathology. The study is innovative as it may provide first empirical evidence for different expressions of narcissism at different levels of personality functioning. This has been postulated in clinical descriptions yet not been systematically studied. Findings will provide a quantitative model for identifying individuals at risk for vulnerability and deepen our understanding of in situ state changes for effective intervention.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Poland, Switzerland
• Cooperation Partners: Professorin Dr. Carolyn Morf; Professor Dr. Radoslaw Rogoza