New study explores the real-time link between narcissism and perfectionism

A new study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences has found that narcissism and perfectionism are more closely linked in everyday life than previously thought, with moment-to-moment changes in these traits shaping how people think and feel.

Previous research has established that narcissism and perfectionism are related as stable personality traits. Narcissism typically encompasses two distinct forms: grandiose narcissism, characterized by confidence and a sense of superiority, and vulnerable narcissism, marked by insecurity and sensitivity to criticism. Perfectionism is similarly divided into two dimensions: perfectionistic strivings, which involve setting and pursuing high standards, and perfectionistic concerns, which reflect worries about making mistakes and being negatively evaluated.

While these relationships have been well documented at the trait level, less is known about how they operate in real time. A research team based at RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau in Germany sought to address this gap by examining whether narcissistic states and perfectionistic thoughts co-occur in individuals’ daily lives, and whether these associations differ depending on the type of narcissism and perfectionism involved.

Led by Charlotta S. Jacobsen, the team wanted to understand whether these different forms of narcissism and perfectionism are linked in the moment – not just as long-term personality traits, but as thoughts and feelings people experience throughout their day.

The researchers followed 285 university students (245 women, average age of 22) over a week. The participants completed short surveys on their smartphones up to six times a day, which asked how they were feeling at that exact moment – for example, whether they felt superior or underappreciated, and whether they were striving to be perfect or worrying about mistakes.

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The results revealed a nuanced picture. When people experienced bursts of grandiose narcissism – feeling confident, powerful, or superior – they were more likely to also report perfectionistic strivings, such as pushing themselves to achieve high standards. At the same time, these moments were linked to fewer worries about failure or criticism.

In contrast, vulnerable narcissism – feeling insecure, ignored, or misunderstood – demonstrated the opposite pattern. These moments were strongly tied to perfectionistic concerns, such as the fear of making mistakes or being judged negatively.

The findings suggest that these traits may be driven by shared underlying processes, such as stress or how people evaluate themselves in different situations. For example, a challenging task or social interaction might trigger both perfectionistic thoughts and shifts in how someone sees themselves – either as superior or inadequate.

Overall, the study found that fluctuations in perfectionistic thinking were linked to fluctuations in both types of narcissism.

The authors noted: “[B]oth predict a wide range of meaningful outcomes. For example, the grandiose facet of narcissism is positively associated with leadership roles… whereas the vulnerable facet is linked to increased aggression… With perfectionism, the facet perfectionistic strivings is related to higher academic achievement… while perfectionistic concerns correlate with symptoms of anxiety… These associations highlight that both traits’ facets relate to achievement motivation and psychological strain.”

However, the researchers caution that their study has limitations. For instance, surveys were completed approximately every 2.5 hours, and the authors note it is unclear whether this timing is optimal for capturing fluctuations in narcissism, meaning some rapid changes may have been missed.

The study, “State grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in relation to perfectionistic cognitions,” was authored by Charlotta S. Jacobsen, Elisabeth Prestele, and Eunike Wetzel.