Different shades of narcissism at work: The relationships of narcissism dimensions with work-related outcomes

Abstract

Although narcissism is regarded as a multidimensional construct, there is little organizational research considering its heterogeneity. The present study (N = 500; age: M = 41.78, SD = 11.29; 42.5 % female) examined whether different aspects of narcissism (narcissistic admiration, narcissistic rivalry, collective narcissism, and vulnerable narcissism) were related to a broad spectrum of organizational outcomes, reflecting the individual's heavy work investments. Narcissistic admiration constituted the strongest positive predictor of global and personal meaning of work, harmonious passion at work, and work engagement. Narcissistic rivalry emerged as the strongest positive predictor of work addiction, work-family, and family-work conflicts, and the only negative predictor of personal meaning of work and harmonious passion. Communal narcissism positively predicted personal and global meaning of work, work addiction, and work-family and family-work conflicts. Vulnerable narcissism displayed negative relationships with job engagement and positive ones – with harmonious and obsessive passions, job addiction, and work-family conflict. The findings demonstrated divergent relationship patterns of each narcissistic variant with organizational variables, which vary in potential adaptability. The results suggested that narcissistic admiration and communal narcissism might bring both maladaptive and some potentially adaptive organizational outcomes. Narcissistic rivalry and vulnerable narcissism seem to manifest themselves only unfavorably in the workplace.