Psychologists map the emotional borders between social anxiety and narcissism
While social anxiety and vulnerable narcissism both stem from feelings of inadequacy, a new study reveals they are driven by different types of shame. Social anxiety relies on self-criticism, whereas narcissism involves a broader fear of outside judgment.
Psychologists have uncovered the unique emotional aspects of social anxiety and vulnerable narcissism, while also highlighting their shared roots in feelings of inadequacy. A study involving 400 adults found that social anxiety is primarily tied to internal feelings of defectiveness, whereas vulnerable narcissism encompasses a broader range of vulnerabilities, such as a fear of judgment and an expectation of rejection.
The research, published in Personality and Individual Differences, suggests that these psychological profiles differ in their associations with shame, which can manifest as either internal (self-focused) or external (other-focused) shame. Internal shame involves a perception of one's own fundamental flaws, while external shame revolves around the belief that others view one negatively.
The findings, based on surveys completed by a sample of predominantly Italian women, reveal that both social anxiety and vulnerable narcissism share a heightened sensitivity to interpersonal threats, particularly rejection. This sensitivity is thought to develop from early experiences of criticism or exclusion. The study, conducted by Giulia Rosa Policardo and colleagues, aimed to map the overlapping traits of these two psychological profiles by examining the relationships between rejection sensitivity, various forms of shame, and symptoms of social anxiety and vulnerable narcissism.
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