Does self-love lead to love for others? A story of narcissistic game playing.
Five studies investigated the links among narcissism, self-esteem, and love. Across all studies, narcissism was associated primarily with a game-playing love style. This link was found in reports of general love styles (Study 1a) and of love in ongoing romantic relationships (Studies 1b-3, 5). Narcissists' game-playing love style was the result of a need for power and autonomy (Study 2) and was linked with greater relationship alternatives and lesser commitment (Study 3). Finally, narcissists' self-reports of game playing were confirmed by their partners in past and current relationships (Studies 4, 5). In contrast, self-esteem was negatively linked to manic love and positively linked to passionate love across studies. Implications for the understanding of narcissism in relationships are discussed.
Campbell
W Keith
WK
U Georgia.
Foster
Craig A
CA
Unites States Air Force Academy.
Finkel
Eli J
EJ
Carnegie Melon U.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003380:Courtship; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009289:Narcissism; D009657:North Carolina; D009820:Ohio; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012963:Sociometric Techniques