TY - JOUR
T1 - Better than my loved ones: Social comparison tendencies among narcissists
AU - Krizan, Z.
AU - Bushman, B.J.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Narcissists pursue superiority and status at frequent costs to their relationships, and social comparisons seem central to these pursuits. Critically, these comparison tendencies should distinguish narcissism from healthy self-esteem. We tested this hypothesis in a study examining individual differences in everyday comparison activity. Narcissists, relative to those with high self-esteem, (1) made more frequent social comparisons, particularly downward ones, (2) were more likely to think they were better-off than other important individuals in their lives, and (3) perceived themselves superior to these important individuals on agentic traits. However, narcissists' positive emotional reactions to these self-flattering comparisons were based on their high self-esteem. These results suggest that comparison processes play an important role in narcissists' endless pursuit of status and admiration. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
AB - Narcissists pursue superiority and status at frequent costs to their relationships, and social comparisons seem central to these pursuits. Critically, these comparison tendencies should distinguish narcissism from healthy self-esteem. We tested this hypothesis in a study examining individual differences in everyday comparison activity. Narcissists, relative to those with high self-esteem, (1) made more frequent social comparisons, particularly downward ones, (2) were more likely to think they were better-off than other important individuals in their lives, and (3) perceived themselves superior to these important individuals on agentic traits. However, narcissists' positive emotional reactions to these self-flattering comparisons were based on their high self-esteem. These results suggest that comparison processes play an important role in narcissists' endless pursuit of status and admiration. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2010.09.031
DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2010.09.031
M3 - Article
SN - 0191-8869
VL - 50
SP - 212
EP - 216
JO - Personality and Individual Differences
JF - Personality and Individual Differences
ER -