Why narcissists are using Facebook? – the relationship between narcissism dependent on others and using Facebook among students
Authors: Adriana Biernatowska, Julia Maria Balcerowska, Luiza Pianka
Abstract: The present study examined the relationship between narcissism dependent on others and styles of using Facebook in order to see what motivates narcissists when using social media. Depending on what is the main motive of regulating self-esteem there are different expressions of narcissism. When the main strategy is comparing to others, narcissists express themselves according to their expectation about their impact on others (Leadership) or about being admired (Self-absorption). Different styles of using Facebook were also proposed varying on the motives of users. Considering the nature of narcissistic personality, it was assumed that they will use Facebook as celebrities of Facebook or aware self-presenters, for whom need for admiration is important. The sample consisted of 275 students (197 women, 75 men, 3 people did not report gender. The mean age of sample was M = 21.31 (SD = 4.13) Valid and reliable psychometric tools were applied. Hypotheses were partially confirmed. Celebrities of Facebook and selfpresenters were predicted by self-absorption and not by leadership. The results showed that narcissism expression in Facebook use is related only to negative aspects of this trait. The potential implications of the results in the context of Facebook addiction are discussed.
Publ: Research and Development of Young Scientists in Poland. Humanities and social sciences