Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2011

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Christopher T. Barry

Committee Chair Department

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Tammy Barry

Committee Member 2 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Virgil Zeigler-Hill

Committee Member 3 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 4

Mitchell Berman

Committee Member 4 Department

Psychology

Abstract

Narcissistic personality characteristics (e.g., grandiosity, entitlement, exploitativeness, exhibitionism) are associated with various forms of problem behaviors in children or adolescents, including aggression. The aim of this study was to extend what is known about the relation between narcissism and aggression. Specifically, social-cognitive factors (i.e., hostile attributions, attitudes supporting the use of aggression) were hypothesized to mediate this relation. Two hundred nineteen (219) participants between the ages of 16 and 19 years (M = 16.83 yrs; SD = .80) were recruited for this study. Participants were of both sexes (85% male) and of Caucasian (62%), African American (37 %) and other (1%) ethnic origin. Overall, the data showed that adolescents with more narcissistic personality traits were more likely to report higher levels of both reactive and proactive aggression. Also, adolescents’ beliefs supporting the use of aggression partially mediated the relation between narcissism and both proactive and reactive aggression. Hostile attributions and retaliatory beliefs supporting aggression did not mediate the relation between narcissism and aggression including different forms. Important theoretical implications are discussed to shed light on these findings, as well as on possible intervention targets and future research directions.

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