Researchers have found that more intelligent narcissists are less likely to exhibit rivalry and aggression.
This suggests higher intelligence may help mitigate some of the negative interpersonal behaviors associated with narcissism.
Key Facts:
- Narcissism has two main dimensions – admiration and rivalry. Admiration involves self-promotion, while rivalry involves aggression and devaluation of others.
- These two aspects of narcissism are positively correlated – those high in admiration also tend to be high in rivalry.
- However, higher intelligence (measured through IQ tests) weakens this link between admiration and rivalry. More intelligent narcissists are less likely to devalue and aggress against others.
- This effect is driven by actual intellectual ability, not just perceived intelligence. Simply believing you are smart does not lower rivalry in narcissists.
Source: Personality and Individual Differences (Vol 209) (July 2023)
Looking at Narcissism’s Two Sides
Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by grandiose views of the self and feelings of entitlement. Psychologists break narcissism down into two main dimensions:
- Narcissistic Admiration: This involves self-promotion, wanting attention/praise from others, and overestimating one’s own abilities.
- Narcissistic Rivalry: This involves aggression toward others, wanting others to fail, and devaluing others’ accomplishments.
These two aspects of narcissism are positively correlated – those who score higher in narcissistic admiration also tend to score higher in narcissistic rivalry.
However, narcissistic admiration is seen as the “default” mode, while rivalry is a more reactive, defensive response when the narcissist’s ego is threatened.
On average, people score higher in admiration than rivalry.
So admiration is thought to potentially lead to the development of rivalry in narcissists under certain conditions.
Intelligence Moderates the Link Between Admiration and Rivalry
Recent research suggests that intelligence moderates the link between narcissistic admiration and rivalry.
In less intelligent narcissists, the positive association between admiration and rivalry is strong.
But at higher levels of intelligence, this link is weakened.
In two studies, higher intelligence (measured by IQ tests) was associated with lower levels of rivalry for a given level of admiration.
More intelligent narcissists were less likely to exhibit rivalry and aggression.
This effect was driven by actual intellectual abilities, not just subjective beliefs about one’s intelligence.
Narcissists who believed themselves to be smart did not show lower rivalry – they had to actually score higher on intelligence tests.
Why Would Intelligence Reduce Rivalry in Narcissists?
Researchers hypothesize two main reasons for this phenomenon:
- Intelligent narcissists are more likely to have achieved real accomplishments that bolster their grandiose self-views. Less intelligent narcissists are more likely to have failed to live up to their own lofty ideals, causing them to lash out against others who threaten their ego.
- Intelligent narcissists may better realize that aggressive rivalry behaviors are unlikely to confer benefits and may hinder their goals. So they are more likely to collaborate with others and acknowledge others’ achievements.
Essentially, intelligence may lead to genuine achievements that reduce the need for narcissists to devalue others to maintain their self-esteem. And it may lead to better understanding of which behaviors ultimately benefit the self vs. harm it.
The Moderating Role of Intelligence
The researchers found the positive link between narcissistic admiration and rivalry was weakest among those in the top 15% of intelligence.
Above an IQ of around 115-120, the two aspects of narcissism were only weakly related.
In contrast, below-average intelligence was associated with a strong positive relationship between admiration and rivalry.
Narcissists with lower intelligence scores were much more likely to exhibit aggression and ego threat when self-promoting.
This suggests that, beyond a certain level of intelligence, narcissistic rivalry may be avoided even in those who display grandiose self-views and seek admiration from others.
Their achievements and decision-making may mitigate the defensive behaviors associated with threatened egotism.
Caveats and Limitations of the study
This research establishes a correlational link between intelligence, admiration, and rivalry in narcissists. But there are some important limitations:
- The study was not experimental, so causal conclusions cannot be drawn. It is not certain that higher intelligence directly reduces rivalry.
- Perceived life success was not measured. It is hypothesized that intelligence reduces rivalry through increasing achievements, but this mediating factor was not directly tested.
- Samples were not fully representative. Results may differ in other populations.
- Other factors like self-control could influence the link between narcissism’s two dimensions. The specific role of intelligence remains uncertain.
Future research with experimental manipulations of achievement and a more representative sample could help address these limitations.
But results so far suggest intelligence plays an important moderating role in a narcissist’s tendency toward aggressive rivalry behaviors.
Implications of this research of narcissism
These findings have some notable implications:
- They support the idea that admiration generally precedes rivalry in narcissists. Rivalry may develop as a response when narcissists fail to live up to their own high self-regard.
- Boosting actual abilities and achievements in narcissistic individuals, rather than just perceived competence, may curb negative behaviors like aggression.
- Extremely intelligent people may display narcissistic self-focus with less attendant interpersonal dysfunction. The achievements afforded by high IQ may preempt the development of toxic rivalry.
- However, average or low-IQ narcissists may struggle to avoid aggressive rivalry responses when their self-image is threatened. Their defensive egotism may be harder to circumvent.
Overall, this research sheds light on the nuanced and multi-faceted nature of narcissism.
It suggests that intelligence and genuine skill-development may buffer against the development of the most destructive behaviors associated with threatened egotism.
As with many aspects of personality, ability and achievement modulate how narcissistic tendencies ultimately manifest in social behavior and relationships.
Managing the volatile elements of narcissism often hinges on substantiating grandiose self-perceptions.
The Link Between Mind and Behavior
Studies like this showcase the subtle interplay between cognitive factors like intelligence and complex psychological traits like narcissism.
Small differences in ability may divert the manifestation of personality tendencies in very different directions.
This highlights the importance of not viewing psychological outcomes as stemming from personality or cognition alone.
There are multidimensional factors at play. A holistic understanding requires looking at how capacities like intelligence work in concert with ingrained patterns like narcissism to drive social behavior.
Unpacking these complex associations leads to a nuanced perspective on why people think, feel, and act the way they do.
Science continuously seeks to illuminate the context-dependent pathways from personality traits to behavioral outcomes.
This helps inform interventions that steer these connections in more positive directions – for both the individual and society.
Human behavior arises from a tapestry of internal and external forces.
Examining how factors like intelligence moderate narcissism demonstrates the rich interplay of elements that shape who we are.
Research will continue investigating these crucial interactions, leading to deeper insight and healthier outcomes.
References
- Study: Intelligent grandiose narcissists are less likely to exhibit narcissistic rivalry
- Authors: Gilles E. Gignac & Marcin Zajenkowski (2023)
