title: Impulsivity and the self-defeating behavior of narcissists.
abstract: Currently prominent models of narcissism (e.g., Morf and Rhodewalt, 2001) primarily explain narcissists' self-defeating behaviors in terms of conscious cognitive and affective processes. We propose that the disposition of impulsivity may also play an important role. We offer 2 forms of evidence. First, we present a meta-analysis demonstrating a strong positive relationship between narcissism and impulsivity. Second, we review and reinterpret the literature on 3 hallmarks of narcissism: self-enhancement, aggression, and negative long-term outcomes. Our reinterpretation argues that impulsivity provides a more parsimonious explanation for at least some of narcissists' self-defeating behavior than do existing models. These 2 sources of evidence suggest that narcissists' quest for the status and recognition they so intensely desire is thwarted, in part, by their lack of the self-control necessary to achieve those goals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. simine@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Simine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vazire
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Funder
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009289:Narcissism; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012649:Self Concept; D012927:Social Control, Informal