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Cited by 154Evolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorPersonality Traits and PsychologyAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

Are Narcissists Sexy? Zeroing in on the Effect of Narcissism on Short-Term Mate Appeal

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Dufner, Michael, Rauthmann, John F., Czarna, Anna Z., Denissen, Jaap J. A.·2013·Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
DOI 10.1177/0146167213483580
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Abstract

This research was aimed to provide a comprehensive test of the classic notion that narcissistic individuals are appealing as short-term romantic or sexual partners. In three studies, we tested the hypotheses that narcissism exerts a positive effect on an individual’s mate appeal and that this effect is mediated by high physical attractiveness and high social boldness. We implemented a multimethod approach and used ratings of opposite sex persons (Study 1), ratings of friends (Study 2), and records of courtship outcomes in naturalistic interactions (Study 3) as indicators of mate appeal. In all cases, narcissism had a positive effect on mate appeal, which was mainly due to the agentic self-enhancement aspects of narcissism (rather than narcissists’ lacking communion). As predicted, physical attractiveness and social boldness mediated the positive effect of narcissism on mate appeal. Findings further indicated that narcissism was more strongly linked to mate appeal than to friend appeal.

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  • Narcissists are likely to acquire high status and become well-liked in short-term acquaintances and self-presentational settings because affiliative bonds there are shallow and less intimate.

    “In fact, narcissists are likely to acquire a high status and become well-liked in short-term acquaintances and self-presentational settings because in such settings affiliative bonds are more shallow and less intimate (Back et al., 2010; Carlson & Lawless DesJardins, 2015; Dufner, Rauthmann, Czarna, & Denissen, 2013; Lamkin, Clifton, Campbell, & Miller, 2014; Leckelt, Küfner, Nestler, & Back, 2015”

    From The "Why" and "How" of Narcissism: A Process Model of Narcissistic Status Pursuit (2020) · cites this paper as Dufner, Rauthmann, Czarna, & Denissen, 2013

  • Narcissism might be beneficial for young adults' amassment of sexual experiences because narcissists are perceived as attractive, and for job acquisition.

    “Narcissism might be beneficial not only for young adults’ amassment of sexual experiences (because narcissists are perceived as attractive; Dufner, Rauthmann, et al., 2013) but also for job acquisition.”

    From The "Why" and "How" of Narcissism: A Process Model of Narcissistic Status Pursuit (2020) · cites this paper as Dufner, Rauthmann, et al., 2013

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Authors
Dufner, M., Rauthmann, J. F., Czarna, A. Z., & Denissen, J. J. A.
Affiliations
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
  • Jagiellonian University (PL)
  • Tilburg University (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2013-04-02
Volume
39
Issue
7
Pages
870-882
ISSN
  • 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-7433
DOI
10.1177/0146167213483580
OpenAlex
W1994554260
Cited by
154
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 2
FWCI
18.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Homo Politicus (Academy of Humanities and Economics in Lodz) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
narcissism, short-term mating, physical attractiveness, social boldness, sexual attractiveness
MeSH terms
Adult, Courtship, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Narcissism, Poland, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Sexual Partners, Students, Friends

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