As individuals age from childhood to older adulthood, they generally exhibit reduced levels of narcissism, as highlighted in a study by the American Psychological Association. However, individual differences in narcissism tend to persist over time, meaning that individuals who show higher levels of narcissism compared to their counterparts during childhood are likely to maintain this trait into adulthood.
“These findings are significant because high levels of narcissism can impact various aspects of individuals’ lives, affecting not only the narcissistic individuals themselves but also their families and friends,” stated Ulrich Orth, PhD, the lead author from the University of Bern in Switzerland.
The study was published in the journal Psychological Bulletin.
Orth and his team examined data from 51 longitudinal studies involving 37,247 participants (52% female and 48% male) aged 8 to 77. These studies, many of which spanned several decades, were mainly carried out in the U.S., Canada, Western Europe, China, and New Zealand.
The researchers categorized the types of narcissism as agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic. Agentic narcissism includes traits such as grandiosity, superiority, and a strong need for admiration; antagonistic narcissism comprises arrogance, entitlement, callousness, and lack of empathy; while neurotic narcissism involves emotional instability and hypersensitivity.
Overall, the study revealed a decrease in all three types of narcissism from childhood to old age, with a slight decrease in agentic narcissism and more substantial declines in antagonistic and neurotic narcissism.
Despite this decline, individuals’ narcissism relative to their peers remained relatively consistent over time. Those who displayed higher levels of narcissism compared to their peers in childhood tended to maintain this trend into adulthood.
“This stability over extended periods indicates that narcissism is a persistent personality trait,” commented Orth.
Since most of the data analyzed originated from the U.S. and Western Europe, Orth suggests that future studies should examine narcissism in a more diverse range of countries and cultures.
Furthermore, Orth believes that future research should delve into the reasons behind the decline in narcissism with age. He theorizes that the roles individuals assume in adulthood, such as being a partner, parent, or employee, could contribute to the development of more mature personality traits, including lower levels of narcissism.
