Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Germany.
Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Germany.
Child Abuse Negl. 2022 May;127:105545. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105545. Epub 2022 Feb 22.
In the development of narcissism, besides genetic factors, hostile educational conditions, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), are discussed as causal factors. ACE may play a causal role in the development of antagonistic behavior due to negative interpersonal experiences. However, studies assessing the role of ACEs in the etiology of narcissism are still inconsistent, particularly regarding grandiose narcissism. This may be due to the complexity of grandiose narcissism, which can be distinguished into agentic (admiration) and antagonistic (rivalry) facets. Understanding the role of early traumatic events in the etiology of grandiose narcissism may be important for psychotherapeutic treatment in both, patients with trauma history and narcissistic patients.
We aimed to specify the role of ACEs in grandiose narcissism by differentiating between admiration and rivalry.
In a cross-sectional survey conducted from November 2017 to February 2018, a representative sample of the German population above the age of 14 (N = 2531) was selected in a random route approach.
Increased numbers of ACEs were associated with higher mean scores for rivalry in females (B = 0.04, p = 0.02) and males (B = 0.08, p < 0.01), while no significant associations were seen for admiration. Focusing on individual ACEs, in males, all maltreatment experiences were associated with narcissistic rivalry, with the exception of physical neglect, while in women only emotional maltreatment and emotional neglect were significant. Associations with household dysfunction were shown only in men. There were no significant associations between individual ACEs and admiration.
Our results suggest emotional coldness and negative relationship experiences play a role in the development of, in particular, antagonistic and unfavorable narcissistic traits, such as admiration. Therapy with individuals who have experienced ACEs should take into account possible narcissistic personality traits related to ACEs to facilitate successful treatment. Thus, our findings may help building a therapeutic alliance though a better understanding of the development of current behavioral problems for both patient and psychotherapist.
在自恋的发展过程中，除了遗传因素外，敌对的教育环境，包括不良的童年经历（ACE），也被认为是致病因素。ACE 可能通过负性的人际经历在敌意行为的发展中起因果作用。然而，评估 ACE 在自恋症病因学中作用的研究仍然不一致，特别是在夸大型自恋症方面。这可能是由于夸大型自恋症的复杂性所致，它可以分为代理（钦佩）和敌对（竞争）两个方面。了解早期创伤事件在夸大型自恋症发病机制中的作用，对于有创伤史和自恋症患者的心理治疗都很重要。
通过区分钦佩和竞争，明确 ACE 在夸大型自恋症中的作用。
在 2017 年 11 月至 2018 年 2 月进行的横断面调查中，采用随机路径法选择了年龄在 14 岁以上的德国代表性人群（N=2531）。
ACE 数量的增加与女性（B=0.04，p=0.02）和男性（B=0.08，p<0.01）的竞争平均得分较高相关，而钦佩则没有显著相关性。在个体 ACE 方面，在男性中，所有虐待经历均与自恋竞争相关，除了身体忽视，而在女性中，只有情感虐待和情感忽视有显著相关性。家庭功能障碍与男性相关。个体 ACE 与钦佩之间没有显著相关性。
我们的研究结果表明，情感冷漠和不良的人际关系经历在特别是敌对和不利的自恋特征（如钦佩）的发展中起着作用。对经历过 ACE 的个体进行治疗时，应考虑到与 ACE 相关的可能的自恋人格特征，以促进治疗成功。因此，我们的发现可以通过更好地了解患者和心理治疗师当前行为问题的发展，帮助建立治疗联盟。
