New research published in journal personality and individual differences found that narcissism and perfectionism are more closely related in everyday life than previously thought, and that moment-to-moment changes in these traits shape the way people think and feel.
Previous research has demonstrated that narcissism and perfectionism are linked as stable personality traits. Narcissism typically includes two different forms: grandiose narcissism, which is characterized by self-confidence and a sense of superiority, and vulnerable narcissism, which is characterized by insecurity and sensitivity to criticism. Perfectionism can similarly be divided into two dimensions. One is perfectionistic striving to set and pursue high standards, and the other is perfectionistic concern, which reflects the fear of making mistakes or receiving negative evaluations.
Although these relationships are 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 thinking co-occur in individuals’ daily lives, and whether these associations differ depending on the type of narcissism and perfectionism involved.
A team led by Charlotta S. Jacobsen wanted to understand whether these different forms of narcissism and perfectionism are connected in the moment, not only as long-term personality traits, but also as thoughts and emotions that people experience throughout the day.
The researchers followed 285 college students (245 women, average age 22 years) for one week. Participants used their smartphones to complete a short survey up to six times a day asking how they were feeling in the moment. For example, we asked whether they felt superior, undervalued, striving for perfection, or worried about making mistakes.
As a result, a delicate situation emerged. When people experience outbursts of grandiose narcissism—feelings of confidence, power, and superiority—they are also more likely to report perfectionistic strivings, such as pushing themselves to achieve high standards. At the same time, these moments led to less worry about failure and criticism.
In contrast, vulnerable narcissism (feeling anxious, ignored, and misunderstood) showed the opposite pattern. These moments were strongly connected to perfectionistic concerns, such as fear of making mistakes and being negatively evaluated.
The findings suggest that these traits may be caused by common underlying processes, such as stress and how people evaluate themselves in different situations. For example, challenging work or social interactions can cause perfectionistic thoughts or changes in how we view ourselves as good or inadequate.
Overall, this study found that variation in perfectionistic thinking was related to variation in both types of narcissism.
The authors conclude that “(B)others predict a wide range of meaningful outcomes. For example, the grandiose side of narcissism is positively associated with leadership roles…while the vulnerable side is associated with increased aggression…In the case of perfectionism, perfectionistic striving is associated with improved academic performance…while perfectionist concerns are correlated with symptoms of anxiety…These associations highlight that aspects of both traits are associated with achievement motivation and psychological strain.”
However, the researchers caution that their study has limitations. For example, surveys were completed approximately every 2.5 hours, but the authors note that it is unclear whether this timing is optimal for capturing fluctuations in narcissism, meaning some rapid changes may have been missed.
The study, “A state of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism associated with perfectionistic cognitions,” was authored by Charlotta S. Jacobsen, Elisabeth Prestele, and Eunike Wetzel.
