A new study may have uncovered a key sign that a person is a narcissist.
Published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the research found that narcissists are more likely to feel left out than the average person, and respond more negatively to subtle social situations. For example, they might take it personally if someone doesn’t return a glance, or a friend forgets a shared memory.
“Feeling ostracised is a subjective experience based on the perception of social cues by the individual. Some may be intentionally ostracised, while others may merely believe they are being excluded when that’s not the case,” said lead author Christiane Büttner, from the University of Basel.
“Our findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of narcissism are more sensitive to exclusion cues, leading them to perceive ostracism more frequently.”
To reach this conclusion, researchers analysed data from multiple surveys. One key source was a long-term German study that included 1,592 people. The results showed that people with higher levels of narcissism were significantly more likely to feel excluded compared to those with lower narcissism levels.
In a series of follow-up experiments, researchers studied 2,500 people with varying levels of narcissism. They used activities that simulated social exclusion – like not being chosen for a team – to see how participants reacted. The results showed that people with stronger narcissistic traits were more likely to interpret being ignored as intentional rejection. They also tended to overestimate how many times they were excluded.
“If people with high narcissistic traits are more likely to feel and be excluded, this could contribute to escalating tensions in workplaces or social groups. At the same time, their heightened sensitivity to exclusion might make them more likely to react aggressively,” Büttner said.
“These findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving interpersonal relationships and reducing social friction should consider both the perceptions and behaviours of the individuals involved.”
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