Narcissists show heightened physiological arousal when talking about themselves

A series of three experiments found that individuals with pronounced narcissistic traits tend to show heightened skin conductance when talking about themselves—especially when describing experiences of being admired by others. The research was published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology.

Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance and a strong need for admiration. People high in narcissism often believe they are superior to others and tend to lack empathy. While a certain level of self-confidence is normal and even healthy, narcissism can become problematic when it leads to manipulation or a disregard for others’ feelings.

There are two main types of narcissism: grandiose narcissism, marked by arrogance and dominance, and vulnerable narcissism, characterized by insecurity and defensiveness. Narcissistic traits can be present in psychologically healthy individuals, but in extreme cases, they may form part of a narcissistic personality disorder.

Study author Emmi Koskinen and her colleagues note that individuals high in narcissism often show a strong dependence on social approval and a deep need to be loved and admired. As such, when they meet someone new and must talk about themselves, their autonomic nervous system may respond with heightened physiological arousal. These first encounters offer an opportunity to gain validation—but also carry the risk of social rejection.

To explore this, the researchers conducted a series of three experiments involving 44 healthy university students, paired into 22 same-sex dyads. Participants were selected based on their narcissism scores to represent either high or low levels of narcissistic traits.

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Each experiment involved a different conversational scenario:

• Experiment 1: Participants spent five minutes getting acquainted in a free-form conversation.
• Experiment 2: Participants discussed emotional life experiences—specifically happy events and losses. Each topic was discussed for ten minutes, with participants alternating roles: one spoke while the other listened, then they switched.
• Experiment 3: Participants shared four personal stories without a time limit. Topics included: the best nature experience, the worst movie, a time they felt admired, and a time they felt ashamed.

After each experiment, participants rated their emotional state using Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) scales, measuring valence (positive vs. negative emotions), arousal (level of excitement), and dominance (sense of control). Meanwhile, researchers collected physiological data using skin conductance sensors and electrocardiogram (ECG) devices.

The results from Experiment 1 did not support the researchers’ initial hypothesis: individuals high in narcissism did not show significantly higher arousal while getting acquainted.

However, in Experiment 2, those with higher narcissism scores exhibited significantly higher skin conductance while telling emotional stories—suggesting greater physiological arousal during self-disclosure, regardless of whether the story was positive or negative.

In Experiment 3, the effect became more specific. Participants with high narcissistic traits again showed elevated physiological arousal while disclosing personal information. Notably, skin conductance was particularly heightened when they recounted moments of being admired by others. This effect was most pronounced when the story was shared with another participant who was also high in narcissism.

“We found a persistent pattern of grandiose narcissists’ elevated physiological arousal during self-disclosure in naturalistic conversation. This heightened arousal can be attributed to the dual nature of self-disclosure, presenting both a potential self-threat and an opportunity for self-enhancement and validation. Unexpectedly, our results reveal that among the more narcissistic participants, elevated physiological arousal is associated with narratives of admiration rather than shameful events. This implies a reaction to the possibility of gaining validation rather than to potential self-threats,” the study authors concluded.

This study makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of how narcissistic traits shape emotional and physiological responses during interpersonal interactions. However, the small, homogenous sample—composed solely of university students—limits the generalizability of the findings. Future studies involving more diverse populations are needed to confirm and expand upon these results.

The paper, “‘Wired up about self’ – narcissistic traits predict elevated physiological arousal during self-disclosure in conversation”, was authored by E. Koskinen, P. Henttonen, V. Harjunen, E. Krusemark, J. Salmi, J. Tuominen, M. Wuolio, and A. Perakyla.