The ambition trap: Narcissistic traits propel unattainable aspirations

Researchers have discovered that individuals with higher levels of narcissism, particularly those exhibiting traits of agentic extraversion, are more likely to set unrealistic future goals. The new findings have been published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

Narcissism is a multifaceted personality trait with three main dimensions: agentic extraversion, antagonism, and narcissistic neuroticism. Agentic extraversion includes traits like dominance and the desire for admiration; antagonism involves aspects like entitlement and manipulativeness; and narcissistic neuroticism encompasses sensitivity to criticism and insecurity. The new study aimed to explore how these traits influence individuals’ propensity to set unrealistic goals, expanding on previous research that primarily focused on the more grandiose aspects of narcissism.

“Pathological narcissism is highly stigmatized and poorly understood. I aim to conduct research that improves our understanding of narcissism, with the ultimate goal of informing psychotherapeutic treatments,” said study author Ellen F. Finch, a PhD candidate in clinical science at Harvard University.

“I grew interested in goal setting, specifically, because there is lots of anecdotal evidence that people who score high in narcissism set unrealistic goals but not much empirical research supporting this idea. I believe it’s important to see if clinical constructs hold up when examined empirically so that we can build models of narcissism informed by data.”

The study pooled participants from different settings, including university pools and online platforms, to ensure a diverse and representative sample. In total, 482 adults participated, completing a series of questionnaires that assessed their narcissistic traits, self-esteem, and history of manic or hypomanic symptoms.

Free daily newsletter

The primary tool used to measure their tendency toward unrealistic goal setting was the Willingly Approached Set of Statistically Unlikely Pursuits (WASSUP), which asks participants to rate the likelihood of setting ambitious goals like becoming a CEO or solving world hunger.

The researchers found that individuals who exhibited high levels of agentic extraversion were particularly prone to setting lofty goals that often exceeded realistic expectations. This trait not only encouraged individuals to aim for high personal achievements (agentic goals) but also extended to goals that could benefit others (communal goals).

Antagonism was linked to setting goals focused mainly on personal gain, such as achieving fame or political influence. In contrast, narcissistic neuroticism showed a negative relationship with the setting of ambitious goals. This suggests that the insecurities inherent in narcissistic neuroticism may dampen the desire or perceived capability to set or pursue high aspirations.

When the researchers controlled for potential overlapping effects among the three dimensions of narcissism as well as other psychological factors such as self-esteem and the history of manic or hypomanic symptoms, they found that agentic extraversion emerged as the strongest correlate of setting unrealistic goals.

“People with high levels of agentic extraversion – one facet of narcissism – may be more likely to set lofty and unrealistic goals for themselves,” Finch told PsyPost. “This pattern of goal setting may contribute to self-enhancement, but may also lead to disappointment and feelings of failure.”

The study sheds light on the role of narcissistic traits in influencing both the ambition and feasibility of the goals individuals set for themselves. But as with any study, there are some caveats.

“Our participants were recruited from non-clinical settings, and we measure the personality trait of narcissism, not Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Therefore, we cannot directly draw any clinical conclusions (or conclusions specific to NPD) from this work,” Finch explained, adding that “goal setting is a complex and multifaceted process. In this study, we examine how likely someone believes they are to set a goal for themselves, which is just one component of broader goal setting processes.”

Future studies could expand to clinical populations and explore additional types of goals beyond those predefined in the WASSUP. The researchers also suggest a more dynamic approach to studying goal setting, including participant-generated goals and assessments of goal persistence and attainment, to better understand the practical implications of narcissism on everyday planning and achievement.

“I hope to continue characterizing cognitive patterns associated with narcissism and to use this research to inform clinical conceptualizations of pathological narcissism and NPD,” Finch said.

The study, “Aiming (too) high: Narcissism and unrealistic goal setting,” Ellen F. Finch, Sarah E. Kalinowski, Daniel L. Schacter, and Jill M. Hooley.