Perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and narcissistic traits

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110696Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Prevention policies benefit from knowing who feels invulnerable to infection.

  • Self-enhancing biases prevent accurate susceptibility perceptions.

  • Grandiose narcissistic traits are associated with self-enhancement biases.

  • High scores on the NPI-16 predict low perceived susceptibility.

  • High scores on the NARQ Admiration subscale predict high perceived susceptibility.

Abstract

People's perceived susceptibility to illnesses plays a key role in determining whether or not to take protective measures. However, self-enhancing biases hinder accurate susceptibility perceptions, leaving some individuals to feel invulnerable in the face of acute health risks. Since such biases are prominent characteristics of individuals with narcissistic personality traits, this article empirically examined whether low perceived susceptibility of infection with COVID-19 is related to subclinical narcissism, as measured with the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-16) and the Narcissism Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ). We report the findings from a worldwide sample (N = 244), a UK sample before governmental pandemic restrictions (N = 261), a UK sample after restrictions (N = 261) and a pooled data analysis (N = 766). Overall, grandiose narcissism as measured with the NPI-16 predicted lower perceived susceptibility of infection, also after controlling for age and gender, whereas the NARQ Admiration subscale predicted higher perceived susceptibility. The findings are discussed in the light of theoretical and policy implications.

Keywords

Perceived susceptibility
Risk
Grandiose narcissism
NPI-16
NARQ
COVID-19

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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