Narcissus Going Public: Pathological Narcissism and Reactions to Public vs. Private Exposure in Ego-relevant Events

Pathological narcissism implies a fragile self-view. The psychological effects of ego-relevant events in people high in pathological narcissism, however, are still uncertain. The study examined the effects of pathological narcissism on psychological reactions to ego-relevant events occurring in private or public settings. Participants (N = 410) completed measures of pathological narcissistic traits, and then they took part in a scenario-based experimental session. They were randomly assigned to four conditions: ego-threatening vs. ego-fostering events in public vs. private settings. Self-esteem and affective states before and after the experimental manipulation were measured. Results showed that vulnerable and grandiose manifestations of pathological narcissism affect differently psychological reactions to ego-relevant events. Vulnerable narcissism made people particularly sensitive to ego-threatening and ego-fostering events, especially when occurring in public settings. Grandiose narcissism was linked to a reduction in emotional responses to ego-relevant events. Findings suggest that self- and affective reactions to ego-relevant events depend on narcissistic prevailing manifestations, and that public exposure has a key role in vulnerable narcissism.