Koło Badań Psychologicznych Experior

Relationship between narcissism and gratitude in Poland


Who: Artur Sawicki
Where: Between narcissism and entitlement: Self-enhancement in a cross-cultural perspective


Abstract: Gratitude is understood as a “generalized tendency to recognize and respond with grateful emotion to the roles of other peoples benevolence in the positive experiences and outcomes that one obtains” (McCullough, Emmons, Tsang, 2002, p.112). Its relationship with narcissism has been studied, and most research show that these traits are associated negatively. Aim of this study was to examine this relationship concerning multidimensionality of grandiose narcissism. Different effects for each narcissism dimension were assumed.

National Polish sample (n = 680) was examined. It consists of 236 men (34,7%) and 444 women (65,3%) with mean age M = 39.29 (SD = 14,22). Multiple regression analyses and mediation analyses suggest that relationship between gratitude and narcissism differ for each of its components. Leadership/authority was related to gratitude negatively, and superiority was related to gratitude positively. Distrust partially mediated these associations.

This study provides important contribution to the understanding of narcissists’ functioning in Poland, also giving some premises for cross-cultural studies concerning gratitude.

8 December 2018