Departmental Papers (ASC)

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of this Version

5-2014

Publication Source

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

Volume

10

Issue

3

Start Page

335

Last Page

341

DOI

10.1093/scan/nsu072

Abstract

Narcissism is a complex phenomenon, involving a level of defensive self-enhancement. Narcissists have avoidant attachment styles, maintain distance in relationships, and claim not to need others. However, they are especially sensitive to others’ evaluations, needing positive reflected appraisals to maintain their inflated self-views, and showing extreme responses (e.g. aggression) when rejected. The current study tested the hypothesis that narcissists also show hypersensitivity in brain systems associated with distress during exclusion. We measured individual differences in narcissism (Narcissistic Personality Inventory) and monitored neural responses to social exclusion (Cyberball). Narcissism was significantly associated with activity in an a priori anatomically defined social pain network (AI, dACC, and subACC) during social exclusion. Results suggest hypersensitivity to exclusion in narcissists may be a function of hypersensitivity in brain systems associated with distress, and suggests a potential pathway that connects narcissism to negative consequences for longer term physical and mental health— findings not apparent with self-report alone.

Copyright/Permission Statement

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience following peer review. The version of record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsu072

Keywords

narcissism, social rejection, social exclusion, Cyberball, social pain network

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Date Posted: 25 October 2016