Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska; Artur Sawicki; Jarosław Piotrowski; Uri Lifshin; Mabelle Kretchner; John J. Skowronski; Constantine Sedikides; Peter K. Jonason; Mladen Adamovic; Oli Ahmed; Kokou A. Atitsogbe; Laith Al-Shawaf; Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah; Rahkman Ardi; Uzma Azam; Zana Hasan Babakr; Einar Baldvin Baldursson; Sergiu Bălțătescu; Konstantin Bochaver; Aidos Bolatov; Mario Bonato; Harshalini Y. Bundhoo; Trawin Chaleeraktrakoon; Phatthanakit Chobthamkit; Richard G. Cowden; Victor Counted; Gisela de Clunie; Sonya Dragova-Koleva; Carla Sofia Esteves; Valdiney V. Gouveia; Katherine Gundolf; Salima Hamouda; Carmen Haretche; Evelyn Hye Kyung Jeong; Dzintra Iliško; Najma Iqbal Malik; John Jamir Benzon Aruta; Fanli Jia; Veljko Jovanović; Tomislav Jukić; Doroteja Pavan Jukić; Shanmukh V. Kamble; Narine Khachatryan; Martina Klicperova-Baker; Christoph Kogler; Emil Knezović; Metodi Koralov; Monika Kovacs; Walaa Labib M. Eldesoki; Aitor Larzabal Fernandez

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-67954-2

Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska^*, Artur Sawicki, Jarosław Piotrowski, Uri Lifshin, Mabelle Kretchner, John J. Skowronski, Constantine Sedikides, Peter K. Jonason, Mladen Adamovic, Oli Ahmed, Kokou A. Atitsogbe, Laith Al-Shawaf, Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah, Rahkman Ardi, Uzma Azam, Zana Hasan Babakr, Einar Baldvin Baldursson, Sergiu Bălțătescu, Konstantin Bochaver, Aidos BolatovMario Bonato, Harshalini Y. Bundhoo, Trawin Chaleeraktrakoon, Phatthanakit Chobthamkit, Richard G. Cowden, Victor Counted, Gisela de Clunie, Sonya Dragova-Koleva, Carla Sofia Esteves, Valdiney V. Gouveia, Katherine Gundolf, Salima Hamouda, Carmen Haretche, Evelyn Hye Kyung Jeong, Dzintra Iliško, Najma Iqbal Malik, John Jamir Benzon Aruta, Fanli Jia, Veljko Jovanović, Tomislav Jukić, Doroteja Pavan Jukić, Shanmukh V. Kamble, Narine Khachatryan, Martina Klicperova-Baker, Christoph Kogler, Emil Knezović, Metodi Koralov, Monika Kovacs, Walaa Labib M. Eldesoki, Aitor Larzabal Fernandez

^*Corresponding author for this work

Social Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

A theoretical perspective on grandiose narcissism suggests four forms of it (sanctity, admiration, heroism, rivalry) and states that these forms conduce to different ways of thinking and acting. Guided by this perspective, we examined in a multinational and multicultural study (61 countries; N = 15,039) how narcissism forms are linked to cognitions and behaviors prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, differences in cognitions and behaviors across narcissism forms emerged. For example, higher narcissistic rivalry predicted lower likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors, but higher narcissistic sanctity predicted higher likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Further, whereas the heroism, admiration, and rivalry narcissism forms acted in a typically antisocial manner, with high narcissism predicting greater endorsement of unfounded health beliefs, the sanctity form acted in a prosocial manner, with higher narcissism being linked to lower endorsement of unfounded COVID-19 health beliefs. Thus, the findings (a) support the idea of four narcissism forms acting differently, and (b) show that these differences reflect a double-edged sword, sometimes linking to an anti-social orientation, and sometimes linking to a pro-social orientation.

Original language	English
Article number	17503
Number of pages	9
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67954-2
Publication status	Published - 2024

Keywords

Adult
COVID-19/psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Narcissism
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Young Adult
Model
Self-enhancement

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10.1038/s41598-024-67954-2

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Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M., Sawicki, A., Piotrowski, J., Lifshin, U., Kretchner, M., Skowronski, J. J., Sedikides, C., Jonason, P. K., Adamovic, M., Ahmed, O., Atitsogbe, K. A., Al-Shawaf, L., Appiah, S. C. Y., Ardi, R., Azam, U., Babakr, Z. H., Baldursson, E. B., Bălțătescu, S., Bochaver, K., ... Fernandez, A. L. (2024). Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific Reports, 14, Article 17503. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67954-2

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title = "Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic",

abstract = "A theoretical perspective on grandiose narcissism suggests four forms of it (sanctity, admiration, heroism, rivalry) and states that these forms conduce to different ways of thinking and acting. Guided by this perspective, we examined in a multinational and multicultural study (61 countries; N = 15,039) how narcissism forms are linked to cognitions and behaviors prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, differences in cognitions and behaviors across narcissism forms emerged. For example, higher narcissistic rivalry predicted lower likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors, but higher narcissistic sanctity predicted higher likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Further, whereas the heroism, admiration, and rivalry narcissism forms acted in a typically antisocial manner, with high narcissism predicting greater endorsement of unfounded health beliefs, the sanctity form acted in a prosocial manner, with higher narcissism being linked to lower endorsement of unfounded COVID-19 health beliefs. Thus, the findings (a) support the idea of four narcissism forms acting differently, and (b) show that these differences reflect a double-edged sword, sometimes linking to an anti-social orientation, and sometimes linking to a pro-social orientation.",

keywords = "Adult, COVID-19/psychology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Narcissism, Pandemics, SARS-CoV-2, Young Adult, Model, Self-enhancement",

author = "Magdalena {\.Z}emojtel-Piotrowska and Artur Sawicki and Jaros{\l}aw Piotrowski and Uri Lifshin and Mabelle Kretchner and Skowronski, {John J.} and Constantine Sedikides and Jonason, {Peter K.} and Mladen Adamovic and Oli Ahmed and Atitsogbe, {Kokou A.} and Laith Al-Shawaf and Appiah, {Seth Christopher Yaw} and Rahkman Ardi and Uzma Azam and Babakr, {Zana Hasan} and Baldursson, {Einar Baldvin} and Sergiu B{\u a}lț{\u a}tescu and Konstantin Bochaver and Aidos Bolatov and Mario Bonato and Bundhoo, {Harshalini Y.} and Trawin Chaleeraktrakoon and Phatthanakit Chobthamkit and Cowden, {Richard G.} and Victor Counted and {de Clunie}, Gisela and Sonya Dragova-Koleva and Esteves, {Carla Sofia} and Gouveia, {Valdiney V.} and Katherine Gundolf and Salima Hamouda and Carmen Haretche and Jeong, {Evelyn Hye Kyung} and Dzintra Ili{\v s}ko and Malik, {Najma Iqbal} and Aruta, {John Jamir Benzon} and Fanli Jia and Veljko Jovanovi{\'c} and Tomislav Juki{\'c} and Juki{\'c}, {Doroteja Pavan} and Kamble, {Shanmukh V.} and Narine Khachatryan and Martina Klicperova-Baker and Christoph Kogler and Emil Knezovi{\'c} and Metodi Koralov and Monika Kovacs and Eldesoki, {Walaa Labib M.} and Fernandez, {Aitor Larzabal}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

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doi = "10.1038/s41598-024-67954-2",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

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Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M, Sawicki, A, Piotrowski, J, Lifshin, U, Kretchner, M, Skowronski, JJ, Sedikides, C, Jonason, PK, Adamovic, M, Ahmed, O, Atitsogbe, KA, Al-Shawaf, L, Appiah, SCY, Ardi, R, Azam, U, Babakr, ZH, Baldursson, EB, Bălțătescu, S, Bochaver, K, Bolatov, A, Bonato, M, Bundhoo, HY, Chaleeraktrakoon, T, Chobthamkit, P, Cowden, RG, Counted, V, de Clunie, G, Dragova-Koleva, S, Esteves, CS, Gouveia, VV, Gundolf, K, Hamouda, S, Haretche, C, Jeong, EHK, Iliško, D, Malik, NI, Aruta, JJB, Jia, F, Jovanović, V, Jukić, T, Jukić, DP, Kamble, SV, Khachatryan, N, Klicperova-Baker, M, Kogler, C, Knezović, E, Koralov, M, Kovacs, M, Eldesoki, WLM & Fernandez, AL 2024, 'Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic', Scientific Reports, vol. 14, 17503. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67954-2

TY - JOUR

T1 - Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic

AU - Żemojtel-Piotrowska, Magdalena

AU - Sawicki, Artur

AU - Piotrowski, Jarosław

AU - Lifshin, Uri

AU - Kretchner, Mabelle

AU - Skowronski, John J.

AU - Sedikides, Constantine

AU - Jonason, Peter K.

AU - Adamovic, Mladen

AU - Ahmed, Oli

AU - Atitsogbe, Kokou A.

AU - Al-Shawaf, Laith

AU - Appiah, Seth Christopher Yaw

AU - Ardi, Rahkman

AU - Azam, Uzma

AU - Babakr, Zana Hasan

AU - Baldursson, Einar Baldvin

AU - Bălțătescu, Sergiu

AU - Bochaver, Konstantin

AU - Bolatov, Aidos

AU - Bonato, Mario

AU - Bundhoo, Harshalini Y.

AU - Chaleeraktrakoon, Trawin

AU - Chobthamkit, Phatthanakit

AU - Cowden, Richard G.

AU - Counted, Victor

AU - de Clunie, Gisela

AU - Dragova-Koleva, Sonya

AU - Esteves, Carla Sofia

AU - Gouveia, Valdiney V.

AU - Gundolf, Katherine

AU - Hamouda, Salima

AU - Haretche, Carmen

AU - Jeong, Evelyn Hye Kyung

AU - Iliško, Dzintra

AU - Malik, Najma Iqbal

AU - Aruta, John Jamir Benzon

AU - Jia, Fanli

AU - Jovanović, Veljko

AU - Jukić, Tomislav

AU - Jukić, Doroteja Pavan

AU - Kamble, Shanmukh V.

AU - Khachatryan, Narine

AU - Klicperova-Baker, Martina

AU - Kogler, Christoph

AU - Knezović, Emil

AU - Koralov, Metodi

AU - Kovacs, Monika

AU - Eldesoki, Walaa Labib M.

AU - Fernandez, Aitor Larzabal

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - A theoretical perspective on grandiose narcissism suggests four forms of it (sanctity, admiration, heroism, rivalry) and states that these forms conduce to different ways of thinking and acting. Guided by this perspective, we examined in a multinational and multicultural study (61 countries; N = 15,039) how narcissism forms are linked to cognitions and behaviors prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, differences in cognitions and behaviors across narcissism forms emerged. For example, higher narcissistic rivalry predicted lower likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors, but higher narcissistic sanctity predicted higher likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Further, whereas the heroism, admiration, and rivalry narcissism forms acted in a typically antisocial manner, with high narcissism predicting greater endorsement of unfounded health beliefs, the sanctity form acted in a prosocial manner, with higher narcissism being linked to lower endorsement of unfounded COVID-19 health beliefs. Thus, the findings (a) support the idea of four narcissism forms acting differently, and (b) show that these differences reflect a double-edged sword, sometimes linking to an anti-social orientation, and sometimes linking to a pro-social orientation.

AB - A theoretical perspective on grandiose narcissism suggests four forms of it (sanctity, admiration, heroism, rivalry) and states that these forms conduce to different ways of thinking and acting. Guided by this perspective, we examined in a multinational and multicultural study (61 countries; N = 15,039) how narcissism forms are linked to cognitions and behaviors prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, differences in cognitions and behaviors across narcissism forms emerged. For example, higher narcissistic rivalry predicted lower likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors, but higher narcissistic sanctity predicted higher likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Further, whereas the heroism, admiration, and rivalry narcissism forms acted in a typically antisocial manner, with high narcissism predicting greater endorsement of unfounded health beliefs, the sanctity form acted in a prosocial manner, with higher narcissism being linked to lower endorsement of unfounded COVID-19 health beliefs. Thus, the findings (a) support the idea of four narcissism forms acting differently, and (b) show that these differences reflect a double-edged sword, sometimes linking to an anti-social orientation, and sometimes linking to a pro-social orientation.

KW - Adult

KW - COVID-19/psychology

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Narcissism

KW - Pandemics

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Young Adult

KW - Model

KW - Self-enhancement

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200048928&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-024-67954-2

DO - 10.1038/s41598-024-67954-2

M3 - Article

C2 - 39080302

AN - SCOPUS:85200048928

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 14

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

M1 - 17503

ER -

Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Keywords

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