Department of Psychological Science, Kennesaw State University, 402 Bartow Avenue, Kennesaw, GA 30144, United States.
Child Abuse Negl. 2020 Oct;108:104656. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104656. Epub 2020 Aug 12.
Previous research has shown that narcissistic personality traits can differentiate in those with childhood abuse and rejection. However, narcissism has not been evaluated in various family systems, with the consideration for negative and positive childhood experiences.
The following study evaluates differences in narcissism in those who are raised in various childhood environments that sometimes result in adverse long-term outcomes. We examine the extent to which both traumatic and benevolent childhood experiences that manifest from parent-child relationships increase or decrease the likelihood of narcissistic traits.
Adoptees (N= 71), former foster children (N = 59), and those who were neither adopted nor former foster children (N = 207) were assessed for early maladaptive schemas (EMS), benevolent childhood memories (BCE), and narcissistic personality traits.
Participants were recruited through Facebook support groups and non-profit organizations specifically created for adult adoptees or former foster children to complete an online survey. Others were recruited from a participant pool at a large, public university in the American Southeast to serve as a comparison group.
Individuals who were fostered or adopted had lower levels of narcissism compared to those who are neither. These differences were partially explained by differences in BCE and EMS, with BCE increasing the likelihood of narcissism and EMS decreasing the likelihood. The impact of EMS became non-significant when controlling for BCE.
Those from less privileged backgrounds are unlikely to develop narcissism as a protective mechanism but are more likely to have maladaptive schemas. Interventions for those from less privileged backgrounds should aim at providing more benevolent childhood experiences to lessen the impact of maladaptive schemas.
先前的研究表明，自恋人格特质在经历过童年虐待和被拒绝的人群中可以区分开来。然而，自恋尚未在各种家庭系统中进行评估，也没有考虑到负面和积极的童年经历。
本研究评估了在各种可能导致长期不良后果的童年环境中成长的人群中，自恋的差异。我们研究了亲子关系中表现出来的创伤性和良性童年经历在多大程度上增加或减少了自恋特征的可能性。
收养儿童（N=71）、前寄养儿童（N=59）和既未被收养也未被寄养的儿童（N=207）接受了早期适应不良模式（EMS）、良性童年记忆（BCE）和自恋人格特质的评估。
通过 Facebook 支持小组和专门为成年收养儿童或前寄养儿童创建的非营利组织招募参与者，让他们完成在线调查。其他人则从美国东南部一所大型公立大学的参与者群体中招募，作为对照组。
与既未被收养也未被寄养的儿童相比，被寄养或收养的儿童的自恋程度较低。这种差异部分可以通过 BCE 和 EMS 的差异来解释，BCE 增加了自恋的可能性，EMS 则降低了自恋的可能性。当控制 BCE 时，EMS 的影响变得不显著。
来自较不利背景的人不太可能将自恋作为一种保护机制，但更有可能出现适应不良模式。针对来自较不利背景的人的干预措施应旨在提供更多良性的童年经历，以减轻适应不良模式的影响。
