Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissism, Materialism, Money Attitudes, and Consumption Preferences

ABSTRACT

Narcissism is increasingly being investigated in the context of consumer attitudes and behavior. Previous research showed that narcissism is reflected in materialistic tendencies and money-related attitudes. However, almost all of these studies concerned the grandiose type of narcissism. We examined relationships of both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism with materialism, money attitudes, and consumption preferences in a nonstudent sample. The results showed that the two types of narcissism are equally associated with materialism and a tendency to conspicuous (public) consumption. Differences between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism with regard to money attitudes were observed. Materialism mediated most of the relationships between narcissism, money attitudes, and consumption preferences, but the patterns of mediation were different for grandiose and vulnerable subtypes. Mutual suppression occurred when grandiose narcissism and materialism predicted anxiety associated with money and when vulnerable narcissism and materialism predicted money perceived as a source of evil. The results suggested that not only grandiose, but also vulnerable narcissists may be prone to excessive consumption and that this can be explained by their materialistic tendencies.

KEYWORDS:

• Grandiose narcissism
• vulnerable narcissism
• materialism
• money attitudes
• consumption preferences

Author Notes

Irena Pilch, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor (permanent position) at the Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland). Her current research interests include personality psychology, the Dark Triad of personality (narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy), implicit social cognition and workplace aggression.

Małgorzata E. Górnik-Durose, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor (permanent position) at the Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland). Her current research focuses on materialism and economic behavior, values and life goals, and psychology of health and quality of life.

Notes

¹ However, the attitudes toward money are connected with the financial situation. The more favorable attitudes were presented by less affluent people and nations (e.g., Furnham & Argyle, 1998).