Ostracism is characterized by feeling excluded and ignored. Left unchecked, it can have severe negative consequences. Why some individuals are more likely than others to be frequent targets of ostracism, however, remains unclear.
In the current study, researchers investigated the link between grandiose narcissism- including traits like entitlement, dominance, a strong desire for admiration, and a tendency to seek status and recognition- and feelings of ostracism.
To do so, they first analyzed nationally representative data from Germany, focusing on 1, 592 people who answered questions about narcissism and ostracism. Among this cohort, they found that people with higher levels of narcissism were more likely to report feelings of ostracism.
The researchers then conducted a 2-week study involving 323 participants who completed assessments for narcissism and past feelings of ostracism. They also recorded momentary feelings of exclusion and neglect over 14 days via a mobile app. Once again, the researchers found that participants scoring higher for narcissism tended to have feelings of exclusion more often than those with lower scores.
The researchers next conducted a series of other experiments involving over 2,500 participants. In doing so, they found that narcissistic individuals were more likely to perceive ambiguous social interactions as exclusionary. Experiments also found that people tend to prefer avoiding highly narcissistic individuals.
Lastly, the researchers analyzed 14 years of data from a national survey in New Zealand involving over 72,000 people. In doing so, they found that changes in feelings of exclusion were followed by changes in narcissism levels a year later, and vice versa.
"If people with high narcissistic traits are more likely to feel and be excluded, this could contribute to escalating tensions in workplaces or social groups. At the same time, their heightened sensitivity to exclusion might make them more likely to react aggressively," said lead author of the study, Christiane Büttner, PhD, of the University of Basel in a press release.
"These findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving interpersonal relationships and reducing social friction should consider both the perceptions and behaviors of the individuals involved."
Sources: Science Daily, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
