Narcissism isn’t just a buzzword
–it’s a multifaceted personality trait that influences how we interact with the world. A recent study published in Self and Identity (a peer reviewed academic journal) dives deep into how age, gender, and perceived social status relate to narcissism, drawing from a massive sample of over 45,000 people across 53 countries. Using the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ-S), researchers examined two key facets: admiration (agentic, self-enhancing behaviors) and rivalry (antagonistic, self-defensive behaviors). Here’s what the data reveals about who tends to score higher—and why it matters.
Age: Youthful Confidence or Maturing Humility?
One of the most consistent patterns is that younger adults report higher levels of narcissism than older ones. This holds for both admiration and rivalry facets. Why? Theories like socio-emotional selectivity suggest that as we age, priorities shift from personal achievement to prosocial goals and emotional balance. Younger people might benefit from narcissistic traits during identity formation, risk-taking, and resource acquisition, but life experiences—such as long-term relationships, parenting, or career stability—often lead to a natural decline.
In the study, the effect was linear: for every year older, narcissism dropped slightly but significantly. This aligns with longitudinal research showing narcissism decreases over time, possibly due to maturation or feedback that tempers inflated self-views.
Gender: Men Lead the Pack
Men scored higher in narcissism overall, as well as in both admiration and rivalry, compared to women. This gap echoes social role theory: societies often encourage men to be dominant and agentic, traits that overlap with narcissism, while women are steered toward nurturing and communal behaviors. Women may also face harsher penalties for narcissistic displays, leading to lower self-reports.
The difference persisted across the global sample, suggesting it’s not just a Western phenomenon. However, the study notes that expressions of narcissism could vary—men might interpret feedback more self-promotionally, reinforcing the pattern.
Perceived Social Status: The Status-Narcissism Link
People who see themselves as higher in social status (measured by a ladder scale from low to high standing) reported greater narcissism, especially admiration. Narcissists often crave status, viewing themselves as superior and entitled. Higher perceived status links to positive outcomes like self-esteem and inclusion, fueling the cycle.
This association was robust, highlighting how narcissism ties into hierarchy and power motivations. Those with lower status might lack the “buffer” that allows narcissistic traits to flourish without backlash.
Key Takeaways and Implications
This study underscores that narcissism isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s shaped by life stage, gender norms, and self-perceived standing. For a deeper dive into how culture plays a role, check out our companion post.
How Culture Moderates Narcissism: Surprising Global Findings
Conventional wisdom says narcissism thrives in individualistic societies like the U.S., where self-promotion is king. But a groundbreaking study with 45,800 participants from 53 countries flips the script. Published in Self and Identity, it explores how cultural factors like gross domestic product (GDP) and collectivism influence narcissism levels—and whether they alter demographic patterns. Spoiler: The results challenge stereotypes.
Rethinking Collectivism and Narcissism
People from more collectivistic cultures (measured by the Global Collectivism Index, focusing on behavioral indicators like household structures) scored higher in overall narcissism, driven by the admiration facet. This counters the idea that collectivism suppresses self-centered traits in favor of group harmony.
Why the twist? In collectivistic settings, narcissism might manifest subtly—to navigate hierarchies or enhance group status rather than overt individualism. Think covert competition or status-seeking within tight social networks. The study suggests modern views of collectivism emphasize responsibilities to close ties, where admiration-seeking could align with contributing to the group’s success.
Rivalry (antagonistic narcissism) didn’t follow this pattern, hinting that collectivism might curb outright hostility.
Wealth’s Role: Higher GDP, Higher Narcissism
Countries with higher GDP per capita had elevated narcissism scores across the board. Wealthier societies may foster indulgence, entitlement, and self-focus, aligning with theories that prosperity amplifies narcissistic pursuits. This contrasts with ideas that scarcity in low-GDP contexts spurs competition (and thus rivalry)—here, abundance seemed to boost both facets.
Examples: Germany and Iraq topped overall narcissism; Nigeria and Iraq led in admiration. Lower scorers included Serbia and Denmark.
Does Culture Change Demographic Patterns?
Despite varying mean levels, cultural factors rarely moderated demographic links to narcissism. Age (younger higher), gender (men higher), and status (higher status higher) effects were consistent across GDP and collectivism gradients. One tentative exception: Gender gaps in admiration were slightly larger in high-GDP countries, but this didn’t hold after corrections.
This implies some narcissism drivers—like maturation or gender socialization—may be near-universal.
Key Takeaways and Broader Implications
This research highlights narcissism’s cultural nuance, urging us to move beyond WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) samples. It could reshape how we view personality in a globalized world.