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ABSTRACT
The purpose of the present research was to investigate the connections that narcissistic admiration (i.e., assertive self-enhancement) and narcissistic rivalry (i.e., antagonistic self-protection) had with respect in romantic relationships. The results of Study 1 (N= 432) revealed that narcissistic admiration was positively associated with perceived respect from partner and respect toward partner, whereas narcissistic rivalry was negatively associated with perceived respect from partner and respect toward partner. In addition, individuals with high levels of narcissistic admiration reported low levels of romantic relationship functioning when they perceived low levels of respect from their current partner. The results of Study 2 (N= 334 [167 romantic dyads]) revealed that the narcissistic admiration of women was positively associated with their perceptions of respect from their male partners as well as the actual levels of respect they received. In contrast, narcissistic rivalry was negatively associated with the actual levels of respect that men and women received from their partners as well as the levels of respect their partners perceived from them. Discussion focuses on the implications that respect may have for the romantic relationships of narcissistic individuals.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Supplementary material
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Notes
1. Due to our concerns about the overlap between narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry, we examined whether perceived respect from partner would moderate their associations with romantic relationship functioning in separate analyses. The results of the analysis involving narcissistic admiration revealed a narcissistic admiration × perceived respect from partner interaction (B = 0.31, SE = 0.05, t = 5.86, p < .001, 95%CI [0.21, 0.41]) that was similar to the interaction already described in the text. However, the results of the analysis involving narcissistic rivalry revealed the expected narcissistic rivalry × perceived respect from partner interaction (B = 0.20, SE = 0.54, t = 3.62, p < .001, 95%CI [0.09, 0.30]) that did not emerge in the primary analysis. Further, simple slopes tests showed that the negative association between narcissistic rivalry and romantic relationship functioning was significant for individuals who reported higher levels of perceived respect (B = −0.32, SE = 0.05, t = −6.95, p< .001, 95%CI [−0.41, −0.23]) but it was especially strong for individuals who reported lower levels of perceived respect (B = −0.48, SE = 0.06, t = −7.82, p< .001, 95%CI [−0.61, −0.36]).
2. Although we framed the perceived respect from partner as a moderator of the associations that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry had with romantic relationship functioning, we also examined the possibility that perceived respect from partner may mediate – rather than moderate – these associations for exploratory purposes using model four of the PROCESS macro developed by Hayes (Citation2018). Narcissistic admiration had a positive indirect association with romantic relationship functioning through perceived respect (B = 0.16, SE = 0.04, z = 4.61, p < .001, 95%CI [−0.01, 0.23]), whereas narcissistic rivalry had a negative indirect association with romantic relationship functioning through perceived respect (B = −0.21, SE = 0.04, z = −6.04, p < .001, 95%CI [−0.30, −0.15]). These results suggest that perceived respect from partner may mediate the associations that these forms of narcissism have with romantic relationship functioning. However, it is important to note that there are important limitations involved with cross-sectional mediation (see Maxwell & Cole, Citation2007, for a review).
3. Due to our concerns about the overlap between narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry, we also conducted separate APIM analyses for these forms of narcissism. The results of those analyses were similar to those presented in the text with only minor differences (e.g., the partner effects for male narcissistic rivalry were weaker when narcissistic admiration was not included in the model).
4. As in Study 1, we also examined the possibility that perceived respect from partner may mediate the associations that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry had with romantic relationship functioning for exploratory purposes. Narcissistic admiration had a positive indirect association with romantic relationship functioning through perceived respect for men (B = 0.13, SE = 0.05, z = 2.61, p = .01, 95%CI [0.04, 0.24]) and women (B = 0.20, SE = 0.06, z = 3.49, p < .001, 95%CI [0.10, 0.32]), whereas narcissistic rivalry had a negative indirect association with romantic relationship functioning through perceived respect for men (B = −0.17, SE = 0.05, z = −3.18, p = .002, 95%CI [−0.27, −0.07]) and women (B = −0.27, SE = 0.06, z = −4.59, p < .001, 95%CI [−0.39, −0.16]). These results suggest that perceived respect from partner may mediate the associations that these forms of narcissism have with romantic relationship functioning but there are important limitations involved with cross-sectional mediation (e.g., Maxwell & Cole, Citation2007).