Perceptual Sensitivity to Facial Self Perception Associated With Pathological Narcissism

Pathological Narcissism can be characterized by impairments in Self-Other Differentiation (SOD), a developmental process of acquiring a consolidated, integrated, and individuated sense of self. As hypothesized by Blatt, SOD develops at a) perceptual (e.g., facial perception) and b) representational (e.g., traits, mental states, and beliefs) levels. The relationship between narcissism and SOD at the perceptual (P-SOD) and representational (R-SOD) levels, which are hypothesized to develop in tandem from infancy on, has not been empirically investigated in pathological narcissism. This relationship has implications for assessment, treatment, and personality theory. In this study, we aim to explore the association between P-SOD, as measured by a face discrimination task, and the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI-52), which measures vulnerable and pathological narcissism. Undergraduates (N = 87, 38% female) were presented with a series of images consisting of morphs blending the participant's face with the face of another, and were asked to make self/other appraisals on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (100% other) to 5 (100% self). The task measured sensitivity (the ability to detect the self in the image) and discriminability (the ability to discriminate between the two categories, self vs. other). We found that higher scores on sensitivity were associated with higher scores on pathological narcissism, r(87) = 0.21, p < .05, and was primarily driven by vulnerable narcissism, r(87) = 0.23, p < .05. We conclude that vulnerable narcissism is associated with the perceptual sensitivity to detect the self and suggests a link between R-SOD and P-SOD. P-SOD is a promising dimension that may provide insight into the mental representations of those with pathological narcissism. 摘要: 病态自恋的特征是自体-他人分化(SOD)上的缺陷,SOD是获得稳固的、整合的、个性化的自我意识的发展进程。根据布拉特(Blatt)的假设,SOD是在 a)知觉层面(如:面部感知)和b) 表征层面(如:特征、心理状态、信仰)发展起来的。自恋与知觉层面(PSOD)和表征层面(R-SOD)的SOD的关系,是被假设从婴儿期开始就连接在一起发展起来的,还尚未在病理性自恋上进行过实证调查。这种关系对于评估、治疗和人格理论都有含义。本研究旨在探讨由人脸识别任务测量的知觉层面SOD,与测量脆弱和病态的自恋的病理性自恋量表(PNI-52)之间的相关性。被试大学生们(共87人,38% 为女性)被呈现了一系列图像,是由混合了变形的参与者的脸和另一个人的脸所组成的,并被要求在里克特量表从1(100%他人)到5(100%自己)范围内进行自我/他人评鉴。这项任务测量的是敏感度(检测图像中的自我的能力)和辨别能力(在两个类别间区分自我与他人的能力)。我们发现,敏感型得分高,与病理性自恋得分高有相关性(r(87) = 0.21, p < .05),并主要受脆弱自恋的影响(r(87) = 0.23, p < .05)。我们的结论是脆弱的自恋与察觉自己的知觉敏感性相关,并提示了在R-SOD 和P-SOD之间的一个联系。P-SOD是一个很有前景的维度,可以有助于洞悉病理性自恋者的心理表征。