Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Peering Through The Smokescreen - New study uncovers the hidden vulnerabilities of narcissists

A recent study by PsychTests.com indicates that people who display narcissistic tendencies may do so in order to mask a low sense of self-worth, and desperate need for validation.


News provided by

PsychTests AIM Inc.

Sep 29, 2020, 03:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

Behind a narcissist’s sense of grandiosity is a fragile and sensitive ego.
Behind a narcissist’s sense of grandiosity is a fragile and sensitive ego.

MONTREAL, Sept. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Narcissists' confidence may seem unbreakable, but behind the arrogant bluff and know-it-all attitude lies a deep-seated vulnerability, according to a study conducted by PsychTests. In spite of their bluster and bravado, narcissists are petrified of having their weaknesses exposed, including their lack of self-love, their fear of rejection, and their hyper-sensitivity to criticism.

Analyzing data from 13,999 people who took the Self-Esteem Test, PsychTests' researchers compared the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors of narcissists to non-narcissists. Here's what they uncovered:

Narcissists are desperate to keep up their façade of superiority, because they don’t want to face the fact that deep down, they feel empty.

Post this

NARCISSISTS FEARS:
> 21% of narcissists are afraid of disclosing their mistakes (compared to 10% of non-narcissists).
> 47% of narcissists are unwilling to admit when they are wrong (compared to 10% of non-narcissists).
> 32% of narcissists are afraid to be themselves, without hiding all their faults and vulnerabilities (compared to 16% of non-narcissists).
> 55% of narcissists are terrified of being rejected by the people they love (compared to 28% of non-narcissists).
> 60% of narcissists are afraid of losing - or never gaining - other people's respect (compared to 21% of non-narcissists).
> 44% of narcissists are worried about not being able to accomplish a task perfectly, and being seen as flawed (compared to 12% of non-narcissists).
> 62% of narcissists are alarmed by the idea of not being commended for their accomplishments (not even one person in the non-narcissist group displayed this fear).

HOW NARCISSISTS REALLY FEEL ABOUT THEMSELVES, DEEP DOWN:
> 51% of narcissists are not proud of their accomplishments unless they receive someone else's praise (compared to 25% of non-narcissists).
> 31% of narcissists often feel worthless and useless (compared to 24% of non-narcissists).
> 50% of narcissists will do anything to be accepted by others, even if it means changing their personality, opinions, or appearance (compared to 12% of non-narcissists).
> 46% of narcissists seek out constant validation from friends and family, and need to hear that they are loved (compared to 11% of non-narcissists).
> 75% of narcissists want to be liked by everyone they meet (compared to 5% of non-narcissists).

WHAT NARCISSISTS DO TO KEEP THEIR FRAGILE FACADE FROM CRACKING:
> 44% of narcissists will point out other people's mistakes, no matter how minor, in order to feel better about themselves (compared to 7% of non-narcissists).
> 34% of narcissists will only listen to positive appraisals, and ignore negative feedback/criticism (compared to 5% of non-narcissists).
> 33% of narcissists will counter negative feedback by listing all of their good qualities (compared to 5% of non-narcissists).
> 57% of narcissists namedrop and bring up their accomplishments in conversations (compared to 1% of non-narcissists).

"Narcissists will go to great lengths to keep up appearances," explains Dr. Jerabek, president of PsychTests. "You will often see this behavior in celebrities who display narcissistic tendencies: They dress to impress, undergo cosmetic surgery or do other extreme things to change their appearance. They constantly promote themselves on social media, do outlandish things to draw admiration and attention, and are dismissive of people who they think are beneath them. This satiates their ego for a little while, but it's a vicious circle, because the ugly truth will come to the surface again: The belief that they are unworthy, unloved, and meaningless. Narcissists are desperate to keep up their façade of superiority, because they don't want to face the fact that deep down, they feel empty. Some narcissists are really good at hiding their vulnerabilities, even to the point of delusion, but the mask will come off eventually, and they will be shown for who they really are: Fearful of rejection, sensitive, and severely lacking in self-love."

"To counter their sense of vulnerability, narcissists tear down other people with constant jibes, pettiness, projection, and gas-lighting. They can wreak havoc in personal relationships and in the workplace, especially if they are in a managerial role. As leaders, they engage in territoriality, set impossible standards, and rule by fear. As employees, they are un-coachable and unwilling to admit their shortcomings. It's important to also understand that narcissism falls on a spectrum - some people are full-blown, others just have some tendencies. However, whatever the case, they are difficult to collaborate with, to like, or to love. Some narcissists can be helped by undergoing therapy, but few seek help, and even if they do, they are quite resistant. The best defense against a narcissist is to learn to spot them. In order to protect your own sense of self, don't internalize their assaults on your character, don't engage in their mind games, and if you're a manager, don't let them get away with bullying or harassment."

Want to assess your self-esteem? Check out our Self-Esteem Test at https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3102

Professional users, such as HR managers, coaches, and therapists, can request a free demo for this or other assessments from ARCH Profile's extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr

About PsychTests AIM Inc.
PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists and coaches, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).

SOURCE PsychTests AIM Inc.

Related Links

https://testyourself.psychtests.com/

Modal title

Narcissists may crow about how amazing they are, but deep down, they are not as confident as they appear to be.
Narcissists may crow about how amazing they are, but deep down, they are not as confident as they appear to be.
Narcissists may crow about how amazing they are, but deep down, they are not as confident as they appear to be.

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.