Narcissists are more likely to be aggressive and violent

Narcissists are more likely to be aggressive and violent because their ‘thin skins’ cause them to lash out if they feel disrespected, a study has found.

They are also more likely to be ‘cold, deliberate and proactive’ in their aggression, researchers say, and ‘not particularly picky when it comes to how they attack others’.

The analysis showed narcissism was linked to bullying, both online and offline. 

‘That’s a highly important finding now that we live in an online world,’ said Sophie Kjaervik, a graduate student at Ohio State University who led the study. 

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Researchers at Ohio State University found that narcissists are more likely to be aggressive and violent because their ‘thin skins’ cause them to lash out if they feel disrespected (stock)

Researchers analysed data from 437 independent studies from around the world and found the link between narcissism and aggression was similar regardless of gender, age or country of residence. 

‘It is a pretty straightforward message: Narcissism is a significant risk factor for aggressive and violent behaviour across the board,’ said Brad Bushman, co-author of the study.

Narcissism is characterised by an overblown sense of self-importance, he added, with entitlement the key component. 

Narcissism also has two peripheral components: grandiose (those with high self-esteem) and vulnerable (those with low self-esteem). The study found all of these components were linked to aggression. 

‘The link we found between narcissism and aggression was significant – it was not trivial in size,’ Kjaervik said. ‘The findings have important real-world implications.’ 

To have an impact, narcissism does not have to be at levels so high as to be pathological, researchers found, with narcissism within what is considered a normal range also linked to aggression. 

To have an impact, narcissism does not have to be at levels so high as to be pathological, researchers found, with narcissism within what is considered a normal range also linked to aggression (stock image)

Meanwhile, the study discovered the link between narcissism and violence was nearly as strong as its link with less serious forms of aggression.

The analysis is consistent with research suggesting that narcissism might be a risk factor for extremely violent acts such as mass shootings, Bushman said. 

Narcissists were more likely than others to be aggressive whether they were provoked or not, the study found, but the risk for aggression was significantly higher when they felt provoked, such as being ignored or insulted.

‘Our results suggest provocation is a key moderator of the link between narcissism and aggression,’ Bushman said.

‘Those who are high in narcissism have thin skins, and they will lash out if they feel ignored or disrespected.’

The study has been published in the journal Psychological Bulletin.