The way a woman deals with someone who has wronged her may reveal some narcissistic traits, according to a recent study that linked hostile narcissism to a greater tendency to avoid the person who caused the harm. Ab
The researchers found that women who showed a stronger automatic association with hostile narcissistic traits were less forgiving, more likely to distance themselves from those who had hurt them, and less likely to show goodwill towards them, but they were not more likely to seek revenge.
Hostile narcissism refers to a range of traits including an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a sense of entitlement, hostility, defensiveness, distrust of others, and a willingness to exploit others.
The study involved 102 women who underwent questionnaires measuring personality traits, along with computerized tests of reaction speed.
The reaction speed tests were designed to uncover automatic associations that a person might find difficult to consciously control. Participants were asked to quickly link words associated with themselves to words representing narcissistic traits, such as hostility, entitlement, and exploitation.
Next, the researchers measured the participants' reactions to people who had previously wronged them, focusing on three patterns: revenge, avoidance of the person who caused the harm, or treating them kindly and showing goodwill.
The results showed that women who exhibited a stronger automatic association with hostile narcissistic traits were more likely to distance themselves from their abusers and less likely to wish them well. Conversely, they did not show a greater desire for revenge.
This pattern persisted even after the researchers took into account the participants' answers to traditional personality questionnaires, suggesting that some spontaneous responses may reveal traits that do not appear clearly in a person's answers about themselves.
Researchers believe that avoiding the person who caused the harm may be a quick and automatic response, while revenge usually requires more thought and planning.
However, avoiding someone after being hurt does not mean that they are a narcissist, as distancing oneself may be a means of self-protection or a result of fear, anger, or trauma.
The study is also relatively limited, consisting of only 102 women at a single German clinic, and it did not observe participants' behavior during real-life conflicts. The researchers are calling for larger studies involving men and women from diverse backgrounds, comparing test results with actual behavior in everyday relationships.
The study was published in the journal "Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry".
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