Momentary assessment of the relations between narcissistic traits, interpersonal behaviors, and aggression

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionThis study explores the associations among narcissistic traits, interpersonal behaviors, and aggression using repeated, situation‐based measurement. We examine narcissism's relations with aggression across three levels of its theorized hierarchy (level 1: narcissism; level 2: grandiose vs. vulnerable narcissism; level 3: antagonism, agentic extraversion, and narcissistic neuroticism).MethodsUsing an experience‐sampling approach, the current study examined the effects of narcissism and its finer‐grained components on daily affective experiences and aggressive behaviors in the context of interpersonal interactions. Data were collected from 477 undergraduate students who were instructed to complete four prompts a day for ten consecutive days.ResultsNarcissism at the global construct level positively predicted multiple indices of episodic aggression (i.e., aggressive temper, aggressive urge, verbal aggression). At the dual‐dimension level, grandiose narcissism specifically predicted aggression, and then at the trifurcated level, interpersonal antagonism predicted aggression by itself and in interaction with event‐level negative affect. Negative affect consistently exhibited both within‐ and between‐person effects on aggression.ConclusionIn real‐life social interactions, narcissism dimensions differentially affect the way individuals experience social interactions and process negative affect, and thus in both research and clinical practice, narcissism is best assessed as a heterogeneous, multidimensional construct.