Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Social Psychology Dark Triad Narcissism

Narcissism negatively predicts partner-enhancement in romantic relationships

by Patricia Y. Sanchez
July 31, 2022
in Narcissism, Relationships and Sexual Health, Social Psychology

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In the early stages of a romantic relationship, people tend to overestimate their partner’s qualities and evaluate their partners more favorably than themselves. This is called partner-enhancement and new research published in the Journal of Research in Personality found that narcissistic individuals do not partner-enhance to the same degree as non-narcissistic individuals.

Research shows partner-enhancement tends to decline as relationship satisfaction increases. “Couples who manifest partner-enhancement cope more effectively with disappointment or conflict, and experience weaker expectations of partner change, less negative communication, and higher relationship satisfaction,” explained study author Anna Z. Czarna and colleagues. “Conversely, couples who manifest self-enhancement (i.e., individuals evaluate themselves more favorably than their partner) are likely to experience relationship dissatisfaction and face relationship dissolution.”

Thus, the researchers were interested in narcissism as a personality trait and how individuals with narcissistic tendencies engage in (or don’t) partner-enhancement in romantic relationships.

For Study 1, the researchers recruited 70 adult participants who were involved in a romantic relationship to complete the online study. They filled out measures assessing the length of their relationship, level of self-esteem, level of partner-enhancement they engage in, and narcissistic personality.

Results show that relationships duration was not associated with partner-enhancement. However, narcissism affected this pattern in that those with lower levels of narcissism engaged in partner-enhancement at earlier (and not later) stages in the relationship. Those with high levels of narcissism, on the other hand, did not display partner-enhancement at any stage of the relationship.

Study 2 sought to replicate these findings with a larger sample size and using different measures of narcissism and partner-enhancement. Researchers recruited 412 adult participants involved in a romantic relationship. They measured the same variables as Study 1 but used different measures of partner-enhancement and narcissism.

In general, results showed neither relationship duration nor narcissism was associated with partner-enhancement. However, consistent with Study 1, those lower in narcissism partner-enhanced at earlier relationship stages, but not later stages. Those higher in narcissism once again did not partner-enhance at any relationship stage.

For Study 3, researchers tested both partners in a sample of 84 couples on the same measures as the previous studies (narcissism measure from Study 2 and partner-enhancement measure from Study 1). Results showed that shorter relationship duration was associated with higher partner-enhancement, but only among men, which was generally consistent with previous results.

“Among men, low narcissists partner-enhanced at an earlier (but not later) relationship stage, whereas high narcissists self-enhanced throughout. Among women, low narcissists partner-enhanced at an earlier and later (albeit less so) relationship stage, whereas high narcissists self-enhanced throughout.”

The authors cite some limitations to this work including the self-selection nature of the recruitment strategies, the mostly woman make-up of Study 2’s sample, and the inclusion of only young, heterosexual relationships for Study 3’s sample.

The study, “Narcissism and partner-enhancement at different relationship stages“, was authored by Anna Z. Czarna, Magdalena Śmieja, Maria Wider, Michael Dufner, and Constantine Sedikides.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin2Send

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

Study finds that poor sleep quality increases aggression, possibly by affecting emotional cognition

Buzzing the brain with electricity can boost the willingness to engage in mental effort

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

A history of intermittent fasting is associated with increased disordered eating behaviors

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

RECENT

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

False confidence: Watching a simple video increases people’s belief in their own ability to land a plane

A history of intermittent fasting is associated with increased disordered eating behaviors

Psychologists developed a new measure of sexual anxiety sensitivity. It predicts some important sex-related outcomes.

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

Buzzing the brain with electricity can boost the willingness to engage in mental effort

Study finds that poor sleep quality increases aggression, possibly by affecting emotional cognition

Parents with more difficult childhoods are more likely to spank their children, study finds

Currently Playing

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Disclosing victim status reduces online dating matches regardless of race or sex

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Dark Triad
Longitudinal study examines the effects of adversity on wise reasoning

New study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying Solomon’s paradox

Social Psychology
Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Cognitive Science
New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

Relationships and Sexual Health
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

Depression
Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • About PsyPost
    • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.