Relationships between childhood maltreatment, attachment security, and features of narcissism: A network analysis. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Xiaotao; Yu, Lizhen; Li, Jia
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 200(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: Vulnerable narcissism -- Grandiose narcissism -- Childhood maltreatment -- Attachment security -- Network analysis; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111890
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Childhood maltreatment and insecure attachment are associated with narcissism during adulthood. However, it is unclear how different types of maltreatment exert effects on specific features of narcissism and whether attachment security serves as a link between maltreatment and such features. We used network analyses to investigate the structure of narcissism and the complex interplay between different types of maltreatment, attachment security, and features of narcissism. A total of 718 participants were included in this study. The results revealed that (1) entitlement rage and contingent self-esteem were the most central features in the vulnerable narcissistic community, and leadership/authority was the most central feature in the grandiose narcissistic community; (2) childhood maltreatment was positively associated with features of vulnerable narcissism, whereas it had no or at most a weak negative correlation with features of grandiose narcissism, suggesting a different etiology for the two forms of narcissism; (3) emotional maltreatment had stronger associations with features of vulnerable narcissism compared with other types of maltreatment; and (4) attachment security served as a bridge node between emotional maltreatment and features of narcissism. Our findings suggest that therapists need to attend to maltreatment experienced by and the attachment security of individuals with vulnerable narcissism. Highlights: Entitlement rage is the most central feature in the vulnerable narcissism community. Leadership/authority has a central role in the grandiose narcissism community. Childhood maltreatment is positively associated with the vulnerable narcissism. Childhood maltreatment has a weak negative correlation with the grandiose narcissism. Attachment security is a bridge node linking maltreatment to features of narcissism.