Authors
Joshua D Foster, Riley F Trimm IV
Publication date
2008/7
Journal
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Volume
34
Issue
7
Pages
1004-1017
Publisher
Sage Publications
Description
This article demonstrates the validity and utility of conceptualizing narcissistic personality in terms of relative approach–avoidance motivation. Across three studies (N = 1,319), narcissism predicted high approach and low avoidance motivation. That is, narcissists reported being strongly motivated to approach desirable outcomes but only weakly motivated to avoid negative outcomes. Relative approach–avoidance motivation was shown to be useful in terms of explaining behavioral tendencies associated with narcissism (i.e., functional and dysfunctional impulsivity) and distinguishing different “flavors” of narcissism (i.e., overt and covert narcissism). Discussion focuses on how approach–avoidance motivation may be used to explain prior findings in the narcissism literature and generate novel future hypotheses.
Total citations
Scholar articles
JD Foster, RF Trimm IV - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2008