A new study published in Personality and Individual Differences has found that a persistent “victim mentality” is strongly linked to narcissistic personality traits. The findings suggest that individuals who frequently perceive themselves as victims and signal this status to others often possess high levels of vulnerable narcissism and emotional instability. This research indicates that for some people, the tendency to see oneself as a victim is less about actual trauma and more about a specific personality structure that seeks recognition and validation.
The researchers conducted this study to better understand the psychological underpinnings of the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood. This is a personality construct defined by a consistent feeling of being victimized across different relationships and situations. It involves four key dimensions: a need for recognition of one’s suffering, a sense of moral elitism, a lack of empathy for others, and rumination on past offenses.
“I had some encounters with individuals that seemed to have a ‘victim mentality,’ and had the impression that they were very self-absorbed and self-centered. Then, when I came to Lakehead for my PhD I learned about the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood from the second author,” explained study author Theresia Bedard, a PhD candidate at Lakehead University.
“I noticed that the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood described these people who seemed to have a ‘victim mentality’ very well. Then, I had did one of my comprehensive exams on vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, which I realized that vulnerable narcissism seemed to have a lot of conceptual overlap with the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood. Since I suspected that the individuals I encountered that had a ‘victim mentality’ also demonstrated narcissistic traits, I decided to test this and collaborated with colleagues at Lakehead.”
While previous research had established the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood as a measurable trait, it was not fully clear how it related to different forms of narcissism. Scholars distinguish between two primary forms of narcissism: grandiose and vulnerable. Grandiose narcissism is characterized by high self-esteem, assertiveness, and a desire for power. Vulnerable narcissism involves high entitlement but is accompanied by low self-esteem, hypersensitivity to criticism, and defensive behavior.
The researchers aimed to determine if the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood and the act of “victim signaling”—publicly expressing one’s suffering—were more closely related to one type of narcissism than the other. They also sought to map these behaviors onto the “Big Five” personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
To investigate these relationships, the research team recruited a sample of 400 adults residing in Canada. The participants were recruited through an online platform and ranged in age from 18 to 71 years. Each participant completed a series of standardized psychological assessments. Grandiose narcissism was measured using the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-13, while vulnerable narcissism was assessed using the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale.
The researchers measured the participants’ propensity for feeling like a victim using the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood scale. They also utilized the Victim Signaling Scale to determine how often individuals publicly discussed their hardships to gain acknowledgment or resources. To provide a broader personality context, the Big Five traits were assessed using the Big Five Inventory – Short Form. The data was then analyzed using statistical methods including correlation and path analysis to determine how these variables influenced one another.
The analysis revealed distinct patterns in how personality traits predict victimhood behaviors. The results indicated that the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood is strongly related to vulnerable narcissism. Both constructs share a significant connection to neuroticism, a personality trait associated with emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness. This suggests that the “victim mindset” is largely driven by a fragility of the self and difficulty regulating negative emotions.
The researchers also found that victim signaling was predicted by both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, though through different psychological pathways. For those with high vulnerable narcissism, the path to victim signaling was mediated by the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood.
This means their hypersensitivity and feelings of entitlement led to a pervasive sense of victimhood, which in turn prompted them to signal their suffering to others. In contrast, grandiose narcissism was directly related to victim signaling, likely driven by the desire for attention and exhibitionism rather than genuine feelings of hurt.
Regarding the Big Five personality traits, the researchers found that neuroticism was a consistent predictor of both the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood and victim signaling. Additionally, victim signaling was associated with higher levels of extraversion and openness, but lower levels of agreeableness. This specific profile describes an individual who is outgoing and willing to share personal information but generally antagonistic and focused on their own interests rather than the well-being of others.
The findings indicate “that having a ‘victim mentality,’ specifically the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood, is related to narcissistic tendencies in general, but that it is more related to vulnerable narcissism than grandiose narcissism,” Bedard told PsyPost. “This has certain implications, as vulnerable narcissism is more related to psychopathology, low self-esteem, and emotional dysregulation. This leads to the likelihood that individuals that are prone to this tendency have psychological problems – and that ‘victim mentality’ is not a psychologically healthy way to live in the world, and likely will lead to various problems for the person.”
“I also want the average person to understand that our research is not political. What I mean by this is that our research is not demonstrating that certain groups have high levels of the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood and thus are narcissistic – to use this research against others of various political affiliations is irresponsible and inaccurate. It is likely that the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood occurs among various people, and it may manifest differently depending on the way the person is.”
“I also want to make it abundantly clear that to use our research against individuals that have experienced marginalization or victimization is irresponsible and wrong,” Bedard continued. “Our research is not indicating that people who have victimization histories are narcissistic. The Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood is a mindset that people have regardless of what their background may be, and this mindset is what is related to narcissistic tendencies.”
“To weaponize our research against individuals that have been victimized or experience oppression is inaccurate to what our research indicates – that the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood is a mindset anyone can have, and those with a victim mentality have narcissistic tendencies. If someone is weaponizing our research against a certain group, please be mindful that they are misrepresenting what our study really indicates.”
These findings build upon and clarify a growing body of literature regarding the “dark” aspects of personality and social signaling. Previous work by researchers such as Rahav Gabay established the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood as a stable trait that affects how individuals interpret social interactions. Gabay’s work showed that people with high the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood often desire revenge and feel entitled to behave immorally.
The results also align with research by Ekin Ok and colleagues, who identified a strategy known as “virtuous victim signaling.” Their work demonstrated that individuals with dark personality traits—specifically Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy—often combine signals of victimhood with signals of moral virtue to deceptively extract resources from others. The current study adds nuance to this by suggesting that vulnerable narcissism is a primary driver for the internal feeling of victimhood, while the external act of signaling can serve the attention-seeking needs of grandiose narcissism.
Recent research by Timothy Bates and his team also explored these dynamics, finding that dark traits like Machiavellianism predict the strategic use of victimhood. Bates also found that sadism was linked to exploiting accusations against others rather than signaling victimhood oneself. The current study by Bedard and colleagues compliments this by focusing specifically on the internal experience of the “victim” and identifying emotional dysregulation as a key component that was perhaps less emphasized in studies focused solely on resource extraction.
Furthermore, work by Karl Aquino has highlighted the potential social costs of these behaviors. His research showed that observers often form negative impressions of those who signal victimhood, viewing them as less competent and more likely to possess dark personality traits.
The findings from Bedard’s team provide a psychological explanation for why these intuitions exist. If victim signaling is indeed frequently correlated with antagonism and narcissism, the skepticism observed in Aquino’s studies may be a rational social heuristic.
There are some limitations to this study that should be noted. The research utilized a cross-sectional design, which prevents definitive conclusions about causality. It is not possible to state with certainty that narcissism causes the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood, only that they are strongly correlated. Additionally, the sample was limited to Canadian residents, meaning the results may not generalize to cultures with different social norms regarding the expression of suffering.
The authors explicitly caution against misinterpreting their work. The concept of the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood refers to a pervasive mindset and personality style, not the objective reality of one’s experiences. The researchers warn that using these findings to dismiss the claims of genuine victims would be irresponsible and inaccurate.
“Like I have said, I want to be very clear that this research should not be weaponized against individuals with victimization or marginalization experiences, and doing so would be inaccurate to what our research study suggests,” Bedard said. “My research endeavors focus on victim/survivor protection efforts, and one of the motivations I had for this study (and many others I have been involved with) is to provide evidence-based information to people about potentially harmful behaviors. This study is one of these endeavors, as I want people to know that if you notice behaviors of TIV in someone, that it is also likely they have narcissistic tendencies, and to be aware that this person might be toxic to be around.”
Future research could focus on developing interventions for individuals with high levels of the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood. Since the study links this mindset to vulnerable narcissism and neuroticism, therapeutic approaches that address emotional regulation and self-esteem might be effective. Helping individuals recognize and adjust these cognitive biases could reduce the reliance on a victim identity and improve their interpersonal relationships.
“My hope is that this study is informative for others to better understand some manifestations of toxic or unhealthy personality types, and that knowledge of how toxic personalities may manifest can allow you to be more aware of someone that may be dangerous or unhealthy to be around,” Bedard explained. “I would also say that if some people notice these traits within themselves, that reaching out to mental health services is an appropriate step. Since the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood and vulnerable narcissism are highly related, it is likely those with a ‘victim mentality’ experience mental health problems such as depression or anxiety. Please know there are mental health professionals that can help you navigate these symptoms.”
The study, “Linking the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood, victim signaling, and narcissism: The need to be seen as a victim,” was authored by Theresia Bedard, Angela MacIsaac, Beth Visser, and Aislin R. Mushquash.
