PMC

The hierarchical factor analysis yielded an eight-echelon structure of pathological narcissism (see ; for factor loadings at each echelon see ). An overall factor of pathological narcissism was at the top of the hierarchy, which split into grandiosity and vulnerability in the second echelon. In the third echelon, vulnerability split to form a more specific vulnerability factor and an unempathic distrust factor. In the fourth, grandiosity split into a more specific grandiosity factor and a self-centered antagonism factor, to which distrust also contributed. In the fifth, a factor resembling indifference to other people emerged from grandiosity and distrust. In the sixth, a psychopathic boldness factor emerged from grandiosity and indifference. In the seventh, grandiosity split into an even more specific grandiosity factor and an attention-seeking factor, the latter of which split in the eighth echelon into a more specific attention-seeking factor and uniqueness factor.

Note. N = 548. Panel 1 shows associations between the narcissism variables (solid lines) controlling for Big-5 (dotted lines). Panel 2 shows associations between Big-5 and variability in narcissism (solid lines). Both Panel 1 and Panel 2 are from the same model but portions are greyed out for presentation. Variability in grandiosity and variability in vulnerability are correlated at .37[.22, .47]. Momentary grandiosity and momentary vulnerability are correlated at .31[.22, .38]. Extraversion and agreeableness were correlated at .08 [−.01, .17], Extraversion and conscientiousness were correlated at .25 [.17, .33], Extraversion and neuroticism were correlated at −.28 [−.36, −.21], Extraversion and openness were correlated at.21 [.14, .29], Agreeableness and conscientiousness were correlated at .28 [.19, .36], Agreeableness and neuroticism were correlated at −.26 [−.34, −.19], Agreeableness and openness were correlated .17 [.09, .24], Conscientiousness and neuroticism were correlated at −.29, [−.37, −.22], Conscientiousness and openness were correlated at .09 [.01, .18], Neuroticism and openness were correlated at −.04 [−.11, .05]. FFNI Grandiosity and extraversion were correlated at .42 [.35, .49]. FFNI Grandiosity and agreeableness were correlated at −.39 [−.45, −.32]. FFNI Grandiosity and conscientiousness were correlated at −.16 [−.24, −.09]. FFNI Grandiosity and neuroticism were correlated at −.15 [−.22, −.07]. FFNI Grandiosity and openness were correlated at .01 [−.08, .08]. FFNI Vulnerability and extraversion were correlated at −.28 [−.37, −.19]. FFNI Vulnerability and agreeableness were correlated at −.41 [−.48, −.34]. FFNI Vulnerability and conscientiousness were correlated at −.31 [−.39, −24]. FFNI Vulnerability and neuroticism were correlated at .69 [.63, .73]. FFNI Vulnerability and openness were correlated at −.08 [−.17, .01]. FFNI Vulnerability and FFNI Grandiosity were correlated at .07 [−.02, .15]. FFNI = Five Factor Narcissism Inventory.

Note. Subset of S3 demonstrating individual variability of momentary grandiosity across time.

Note. Mega-analytic results N=862. Bolded values are those in which the credibility interval did not contain zero. Mean grandiosity and mean vulnerability were correlated at .26 [.19, .31], variability of grandiosity and variability of vulnerability were corelated at .35 [.21, .42]. FFNI grandiosity and FFNI vulnerability are correlated at .09 [.03, .16]. FFNI = Five Factor Narcissism Inventory.