An examination of the relationships among personality traits, perceived parenting styles, and narcissism

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Christopher M. Lootens (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Rosemery Nelson-Gray

Abstract: Narcissism has been a subject of interest to psychologists for over 100 years, yet it remains a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon. There is general agreement that a) narcissism can be viewed as a dimensional construct, and b) high levels of narcissism can be associated with impairment and result in a personality disorder diagnosis. However, relatively little research has been conducted to investigate the correlates of narcissism, which may help psychologists to understand this phenomenon more fully. Two widely theorized, yet infrequently researched, aspects of narcissism include the personality and parenting-based correlates of this phenomenon. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to further explore the correlates of narcissism, as this may provide information about the most useful targets for future research on this construct. Two hundred fifty-three undergraduate participants completed questionnaires that assessed personality traits, perceptions of parenting styles, and narcissism. Results indicated that agreeableness (from the Five-Factor Model), sensitivity to reinforcement (from Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory), and perceptions of maternal and paternal authoritarianism (a parenting dimension characterized by coldness and control) were most strongly associated with narcissism. These findings emerged after taking into account the effects of other personality and parenting variables on narcissism. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for the diagnostic category of narcissistic personality disorder and their implications for future research.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2010
Keywords
Narcissism
Subjects
Narcissism.
Narcissism in adolescence $z United States.
Parental influences.
Parenting.

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