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Showing 2 results for Vulnerable Narcissism
Phenomenological investigation of the experience of interpersonal relationships in people with vulnerable narcissistic personality disorder
Ms. Elahe Safaeian, Ms. Zohreh Khosravi, Ms. Azam Farah Bijari, Ms. Shaghayegh Zahraei,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Narcissistic personality disorder is always associated with a permanent disorder in interpersonal functioning, however, limited studies have addressed the phenomenological nature of interpersonal relationships in these people. Since vulnerable narcissistic personality disorder still does not have a place in the diagnostic classification of mental disorders after several decades, addressing the nature of interpersonal relationships in these people can help to better understand this disorder and to facilitate the process of diagnosis and treatment. The present study is a qualitative analysis of the narratives of 6 vulnerable narcissistic participants who participated in a semi-structured interview and described their relationships with others as they experience them. The implemented text of the interviews was analyzed according to the principles of interpretive phenomenological analysis and 11 main themes:"lack of sociability/fragile interpersonal relationships/interpersonal passivity/self-censorship due to fear of others' judgment/negative self-concept/approval and attention-seeking/fluctuation between anger towards self and others/defense mechanisms/power-seeking personality/definition of intimacy and interpersonal sensitivity" were extracted. In general, the findings of the current research show that despite the fact that these people need social relationships to satisfy their narcissistic needs,but their defense mechanisms prevent them from social relationships. Therefore, having or not having relationships is always a point of conflict for these people.
The Mediating Role of Mentalization, Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity in the Relationships Between Vulnerable and Grandiose Narcissism and Depression
Sara Entezari, Dr. Roshanak Khodabakhsh Pirkalani,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2026)
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of mentalization, epistemic trust, mistrust, and credulity in the relationship between narcissistic traits (vulnerable and grandiose) and depression. A correlational design with path analysis was employed. A convenience sample of 304 adults completed Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck et al., 1996), Short Form of the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory (Sherman et al., 2015), The Mentalization Scale (Dimitrijević et al., 2018) and Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (Campbell et al., 2021). The results revealed that both dimensions of narcissism had a significant positive indirect effect on depression through reduced mentalizing capacity and increased epistemic mistrust. However, epistemic trust played a significant mediating role only in the path between vulnerable narcissism and depression. The indirect paths through epistemic credulity were also not significant. Also, the direct effect of grandiose narcissism on depression was negative, but the total effect was positive through indirect paths. These findings highlight the distinct mediating mechanisms of narcissism dimensions and underscore the importance of capacities for social information processing in understanding depressive symptoms. The results may inform the development of preventive, psychoeducational, or therapeutic programs focused on enhancing mentalization and restoring epistemic trust in individuals with narcissistic traits.

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