Psychophysiological correlates of narcissistic traits in women during active coping

Two dimensions of narcissism were related to psychophysiological responses to stress in 50 young women. Cardiovascular, electrodermal, task performance, and stress appraisal measures were recorded during rest, mental arithmetic, and a computerized Thematic Apperception Test (Murray, 1943). The Egoce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychophysiology 2002-05, Vol.39 (3), p.322-332
Main Authors: KELSEY, ROBERT M., ORNDUFF, SIDNEY R., REIFF, SARAH, ARTHUR, CARLOTTA M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological - physiology
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hemodynamics - physiology
Humans
Narcissism
Personality traits
Personality. Affectivity
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Psychophysiology
Regional Blood Flow - physiology
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Summary:Two dimensions of narcissism were related to psychophysiological responses to stress in 50 young women. Cardiovascular, electrodermal, task performance, and stress appraisal measures were recorded during rest, mental arithmetic, and a computerized Thematic Apperception Test (Murray, 1943). The Egocentricity and Alienation scales of the Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (Bell, 1995) served as measures of overt/inflated and covert/deflated narcissism. Egocentricity correlated consistently with heightened preejection period reactivity, whereas Alienation correlated consistently with diminished electrodermal reactivity (all p < .05). Multivariate analyses supported specific relationships between Egocentricity and preejection period hyperreactivity, and between Alienation and electrodermal hyporeactivity. These results have implications for narcissism, cardiovascular disease risk, and a variety of psychiatric disorders.
ISSN:0048-5772
1540-5958
DOI:10.1017/S004857720139306X