Prof Sam Vaknin
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Self-handicapping Narcissist Even More Grandiose (Psychiatry and Addiction World Conference)
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October 13, 2024
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19:52Now PlayingVideo Presentation to Psychiatry and Addiction World Conference, Singapore, June 2025)
Examples of self-handicapping: distracting music while sitting for an exam; not preparing for a test; no sleeping, drinking, or travelling from afar for a job interview; dressing badly, forgetting wallet, or with poor personal hygiene for a date.
Narcissist has a terror of failure (internalized bad object, shame, potential for mortification)
Ambiguity makes it easier to be grandiose (cognitive distortion, impaired reality testing, fantasy)
Self-handicapping is the opposite of self-destructiveness and self-defeat, it is ego-congruent and ego-syntonic
Self-handicapping is about control and mastery of failure.
More likely to be used when the task is of moderate difficulty. Failure in highly demanding tasks is more understandable.
Self-enhancement: I made it happen, it was my choice, had I chosen to, I could have done much better
If the narcissist succeeds despite the self-handicapping, the success is taken to be proof of godlike superiority and ability. Here I wholeheartedly disagree with Rhodewalt, F., Tragakis, M. W., & Finnerty.
Self-aggrandizing attribution error: When I fail it is either my decision or not my fault. When I succeed, it is my doing entirely and the inevitable outcome of who I am (superior).
The narcissist’s self-enhancement is a form of grandiosity, so cannot be distinguished from self-aggrandizing attribution
I will do better next time for sure (fantasy)
the people/environment did not merit my effort and failed to appreciate me (aggressive devaluation).
The narcissist communicates all the above to others (self-presentation), but only when challenged. Narcissists are self-absorbed, others are mere internal objects, and the narcissist answers only to himself and his standards.
LITERATURE
Rhodewalt, F., Tragakis, M. W., & Finnerty, J. (2006). Narcissism and self-handicapping: Linking self-aggrandizement to behavior. Journal of Research in Personality, 40(5), 573–597. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2005.05.001
Jones, E. E., & Berglas, S. (1978). Control of attributions about the self through self-handicapping strategies: The appeal of alcohol and the role of underachievement. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 4, 200–206.
Feick, D. L., & Rhodewalt, F. (1997). The double-edged sword of self-handicapping: Discounting, augmentation, and the protection and enhancement of self-esteem. Motivation and Emotion, 21, 147–163.
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