Cited by 222Personality Traits and PsychologyPersonality Disorders and PsychopathologySocial and Intergroup Psychology

You probably think this paper’s about you: narcissists’ perceptions of their personality and reputation.

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Carlson, Erika N., Vazire, Simine, Oltmanns, Thomas F.·2011·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Abstract

Do narcissists have insight into the negative aspects of their personality and reputation? Using both clinical and subclinical measures of narcissism, the authors examined others' perceptions, self-perceptions, and meta-perceptions of narcissists across a wide range of traits for a new acquaintance and close other (Study 1), longitudinally with a group of new acquaintances (Study 2), and among coworkers (Study 3). Results bring 3 surprising conclusions about narcissists: (a) they understand that others see them less positively than they see themselves (i.e., their meta-perceptions are less biased than are their self-perceptions), (b) they have some insight into the fact that they make positive first impressions that deteriorate over time, and (c) they have insight into their narcissistic personality (e.g., they describe themselves as arrogant). These findings shed light on some of the psychological mechanisms underlying narcissism.

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  • Perceptions of narcissistic individuals in peer groups vary according to the length of acquaintance, with short-term acquaintances evaluating narcissistic peers more positively and longer acquaintance diminishing these positive perceptions.

    “prior research shows that perceptions of narcissistic individuals in peer groups vary according to the length of acquaintance because the passage of time exposes narcissists’ negative characteristics. Thus, short-term acquaintances tend to evaluate narcissistic peers more positively, whereas over time with longer acquaintance these positive perceptions diminish (Carlson et al., 2011; Leckelt et al”

    From Narcissistic Leaders and Their Victims: Followers Low on Self-Esteem and Low on Core Self-Evaluations Suffer Most (2018) · cites this paper as Carlson et al., 2011

    Study 2 Results report that group members initially viewed people scoring higher in narcissism relatively positively but viewed them less positively by the end of the semester. The General Discussion does not establish that time exposes negative characteristics as the cause; it leaves open whether narcissists behave differently over time or others come to notice existing traits. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • Narcissism predicts initial popularity.

    “Indeed narcissism predicts initial popularity (Back, Schmukle, & Egloff, 2010; Carlson, Vazire, & Oltmanns, 2011; Dufner et al., 2012; Dufner, Rauthmann, Czarna, & Denissen, 2013; Friedman, Oltmanns, Gleason, & Turkheimer, 2006, Wurst et al., 2016)”

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Authors
Carlson, E. N., Vazire, S., & Oltmanns, T. F.
Affiliations
Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Published
2011
Volume
101
Issue
1
Pages
185-201
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
OpenAlex
W2141423196
Cited by
222
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 10
FWCI
17.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH077840, R01MH051187)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords
narcissism, self-perception, metaperception, self-other perception, reputation, first impressions, social perception, narcissistic personality traits, colleagues
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Awareness, Character, Culture, Family, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Narcissism, Personality Disorders, Personality Inventory, Psychometrics, Self Concept, Social Desirability, Social Environment, Friends, Young Adult

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