The Mediating Role of Self-Knowledge Processes Relationship between Self-Compassion, Self-Esteem, and Narcissism

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz,Iran.

2 Department of Psychology, Psychology and Educational Science Faculty, University of Shiraz,, Shiraz, Iran.

3 MSc. student of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Psychiatry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences,Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the continuum of narcissism and the mediating role of self-knowledge processes in the relationship between self-compassion, self-esteem, and narcissism in clinical and non-clinical samples. The present study is basic in terms of its objectives and descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection. The research population consists of government and private employees in Shiraz and clients of psychological and psychiatric hospitals. 140 employees as non-clinical sample and 128 patients as clinical sample were selected by random sampling method. A total of 268 subjects (135 men and 133 women) participated in the current study (2019). Self-knowledge processes were measured using the self-control scale, self-knowledge scale, and mindful attention scale. Goal instability and superiority scales were used to measure narcissism, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Self-Compassion Scale were used to measure self-esteem and self-compassion, respectively. The statistical method used in the study to examine the mediating role of self-knowledge processes was path analysis. SPSS 24 software were used to analyze data. The results showed that self-knowledge processes played a mediating role in the relationship between narcissism and self-esteem and self-compassion in both the clinical and non-clinical groups (ps <0.05). These findings highlight the importance of self-compassion as a healthier pole in the development of the narcissism continuum and indicate the mediating role of self-knowledge processes in this development.

Keywords

References

سرافراز، م. ر. (1395). توجه و تمرکز تقویت‌شده: سازه‌ای واحد یا چندوجهی؟ ساختار عاملی و ویژگی‌های روان‌سنجی مقیاس پنج‌عاملی ذهن‌آگاهی در ایران. فصلنامۀ روان‌شناسی شناختی. 4 (1-2)، 18-10.
سرافراز، م. ر.، بهرامی احسان، ه‍.، و زرندی، ع. (1390). فرایندهای خودآگاهی و سلامت جسمی، روانی، اجتماعی و معنوی. پژوهش در سلامت روان‌شناختی. 4(3 و 4)، 42-32.
زاده‌محمدی، ع.، عابدی، ع.، و خانجانی، م. (1387). بهبود حرمت خود و خودکارآمدی در نوجوانان. روان‌شناسی تحولی: روان‌شناسان ایرانی. 4(15). 252-245.
قاسمی‌پور، ی. (1385). رابطۀ بهوشمندی و نیازهای بنیادین روان‌شناختی در بیماران قلبی عروقی. پایان‌نامۀ کارشناسی ارشد روان‌شناسی عمومی. دانشکدۀ روان‌شناسی و علوم تربیتی. دانشگاه تهران.
قربانی، ن. (1392). من به روایت من. تهران: نشر بینش نو.
مؤمنی، ف.، شهیدی، ش.، موتابی، ف.، و حیدری، م. (1392) ویژگی‌های روان‌سنجی نسخۀ فارسی مقیاس خودشفقت‌ورزی.‌ روان‌شناسی معاصر: دوفصلنامۀ انجمن روان‌شناسی ایران. 8(2)، 40-27.
 
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub.
Baumeister, R. F., Bushman, B. J., & Campbell, W. K. (2000). Self-esteem, narcissism, and aggression: Does violence result from low self-esteem or from threatened egotism? Current Directions in Psychological Science. 9(1), 26-29.
Baumeister, R. F., Smart, L., & Boden, J. M. (1996). Relation of threatened egotism to violence and aggression: The dark side of high self-esteem. Psychological Review, 103(1), 5-33.
Bluth, K., & Neff, K. D. (2018). New frontiers in understanding the benefits of self-compassion. Self and Identity. 17(6), 605-608.
Bosson, J. K., & Prewitt-Freilino, J. L. (2007). Overvalued and ashamed: considering the roles of self-esteem and self-conscious emotions in covert narcissism. In J. L. Tracy, R. W. Robins, & J. P. Tangney (Eds.), The Self-Conscious Emotions: Theory and Research (pp. 407–425). New York, United States,Guilford Press.
Bosson, J. K., & Weaver, J. R. (2011). I Love me some me. The handbook of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder: Theoretical approaches, empirical findings, and treatments (pp. 261-271).
Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 84(4), 822.
Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M., & Creswell, J. D. (2007). Mindfulness: Theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects. Psychological Inquiry. 18(4), 211-237.
Brown, R. P., Budzek, K., & Tamborski, M. (2009). On the meaning and measure of narcissism. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 35(7), 951-964.
Brummelman, E., & Sedikides, C. (2020). Raising children with high self‐esteem (but not narcissism). Child Development Perspectives. 14(2), 83-89.
Bushman, B. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (1998). Threatened egotism, narcissism, self-esteem, and direct and displaced aggression: Does self-love or self-hate lead to violence? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 75(1), 219-229.
Butler, B. S., & Gray, P. H. (2006). Reliability, mindfulness, and information systems. MIS Quarterly. 30(2), 211-224.
Byrne, B. M. (1983). Investigating measures of self-concept. Measurement and Evaluation in Guidance. 16(3), 115-126.
Campbell, W. K., Goodie, A. S., & Foster, J. D. (2004). Narcissism, confidence, and risk attitude. Journal of Behavioral Decision-Making. 17(4), 297-311.
Chiao, J. Y., Harada, T., Komeda, H., Li, Z., Mano, Y., Saito, D., …, & Iidaka, T. (2009). Neural basis of individualistic and collectivistic views of self. Human Brain Mapping. 30(9), 2813–2820.
Creswell, J. D., Lindsay, E. K., Villalba, D. K., & Chin, B. (2019). Mindfulness training and physical health: Mechanisms and outcomes. Psychosomatic Medicine. 81(3), 224.
Crocker, J., & Park, L. E. (2004). The costly pursuit of self-esteem. Psychological Bulletin. 130(3), 392.
Crowe, M. L., Lynam, D. R., Campbell, W. K., & Miller, J. D. (2019). Exploring the structure of narcissism: Toward an integrated solution. Journal of Personality. 87(6), 1151-1169.
Demirci, I., Halil, E. K. S. I., & Fusun, E. K. S. I. (2019). Narcissism, life satisfaction, and harmony: The mediating role of self-esteem and self-compassion. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research. 19(84), 159-178.
Denny, B. T., Kober, H., Wager, T. D., & Ochsner, K. N. (2012). A meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies of self-and other judgments reveals a spatial gradient for mentalizing in medial prefrontal cortex. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 24(8), 1742-1752.
Denson, T. F., Capper, M. M., Oaten, M., Friese, M., & Schofield, T. P. (2011). Self-control training decreases aggression in response to provocation in aggressive individuals. Journal of Research in Personality. 45(2), 252-256.
Di Fabio, A., & Saklofske, D. H. (2021). The relationship of compassion and self-compassion with personality and emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences. 169, 109-110.
Di Sarno, M., Zimmermann, J., Madeddu, F., Casini, E., & Di Pierro, R. (2020). Shame behind the corner? A daily diary investigation of pathological narcissism. Journal of Research in Personality. 85, 103924.
Dinić, B. M., & Vujić, A. (2019). Five-factor model best describes narcissistic personality inventory across different item response formats. Psychological Reports. 122(5), 1946-1966.
Duckworth, A. L., & Steinberg, L. (2015). Unpacking self-control. Child Development Perspectives. 9(1), 32-37.
Emmons, R. A. (1987). Narcissism: Theory and measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 52(1), 11.
Ferrari, M., Hunt, C., Harrysunker, A., Abbott, M. J., Beath, A. P., & Einstein, D. A. (2019). Self-compassion interventions and psychosocial outcomes: A meta-analysis of RCTs. Mindfulness. 10(8), 1455-1473.
Foster, J. D., Campbell, W. K., & Twenge, J. M. (2003). Individual differences in narcissism: Inflated self-views across the lifespan and around the world. Journal of Research in Personality. 37(6), 469-486.
Gailliot, M. T., Schmeichel, B. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (2006). Self-regulatory processes defend against the threat of death: Effects of self-control depletion and trait self-control on thoughts and fears of dying. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 91(1), 49-62.
Ghorbani, N., & Watson, P. J. (2006). Validity of Experiential and Reflective Self-knowledge Scales: Relationships with basic need satisfaction among Iranian factory workers. Psychological Reports. 98(3), 727-733.
Ghorbani, N., Cunningham, C. J., & Watson, P. J. (2010). Comparative analysis of integrative self‐knowledge, mindfulness, and private self-consciousness in predicting responses to stress in Iran. International Journal of Psychology. 45(2), 147-154.
Ghorbani, N., Watson, P. J., & Hargis, M. B. (2008). Integrative Self-Knowledge Scale: Correlations and incremental validity of a cross-cultural measure developed in Iran and the United States. The Journal of Psychology. 142(4), 395-412.
Ghorbani, N., Watson, P. J., & Weathington, B. L. (2009). Mindfulness in Iran and the United States: Cross-cultural structural complexity and parallel relationships with psychological adjustment. Current Psychology. 28(4), 211-224
Ghorbani, N., Watson, P. J., Chen, Z., & Norballa, F. (2012). Self-compassion in Iranian Muslims: Relationships with integrative self-knowledge, mental health, and religious orientation. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. 22(2), 106-118.
Ghorbani, N., Watson, P. J., Ghramaleki, A. F., Morris, R. J., & Hood Jr, R. W. (2002). Muslim-Christian religious orientation scales: Distinctions, correlations, and cross-cultural analysis in Iran and the United States. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. 12(2), 69-91.
Gilbert, P. (2009). Introducing compassion-focused therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 15(3), 199-208.
Gilbert, P., & Irons, C. (2005). Focused therapies and compassionate mind training for shame and self-attacking. In P. Gilbert (Ed.), Compassion: Conceptualisations, research and use in psychotherapy (pp. 263–325). London: Brunner-Routledge.
Gillebaart, M. (2018). The operational definition of self-control. Frontiers in Psychology. 9, 1231-1231.
Gilmore, L., Cuskelly, M., & Hayes, A. (2003). A comparative study of mastery motivation in young children with Down's syndrome: similar outcomes, different processes? Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 47(3), 181-190.
Gino, F., Schweitzer, M. E., Mead, N. L., & Ariely, D. (2011). Unable to resist temptation: How self-control depletion promotes unethical behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 115(2), 191-203.
Golec de Zavala, A., & Lantos, D. (2020). Collective narcissism and its social consequences: The bad and the ugly. Current Directions in Psychological Science. 29(3), 273-278.
Grapsas, S., Brummelman, E., Back, M. D., & Denissen, J. J. (2020). The “why” and “how” of narcissism: A process model of narcissistic status pursuit. Perspectives on Psychological Science. 15(1), 150-172.
Gray-Little, B., Williams, V. S., & Hancock, T. D. (1997). An item response theory analysis of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 23(5), 443-451.
Hagger, M. S., Gucciardi, D. F., Turrell, A. S., & Hamilton, K. (2019). Self-control and health-related behaviour: The role of implicit self-control, trait self-control, and lay beliefs in self-control. British Journal of Health Psychology. 24(4), 764-786.
Hart, W., Richardson, K., & Breeden, C. J. (2019). An interactive model of narcissism, self-esteem, and provocation extent on aggression. Personality and Individual Differences. 145, 112-118.
Jonason, P. K., & Tost, J. (2010). I just cannot control myself: The dark triad and self-control. Personality and Individual Differences. 49(6), 611-615.
Kaur, S., Kremer, M., & Mullainathan, S. (2015). Self-control at work. Journal of Political Economy. 123(6), 1227-1277.
Kohut, H. (1977). The restoration of the self-Madison. Connecticut: International Universities Press Inc.
Kudesia, R. S. (2019). Mindfulness as metacognitive practice. Academy of Management Review. 44(2), 405-423.
Leary, M. R., Tate, E. B., Adams, C. E., Batts Allen, A., & Hancock, J. (2007). Self-compassion and reactions to unpleasant self-relevant events: the implications of treating oneself kindly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 92(5), 887-904
Little, T., Watson, P. J., Biderman, M. D., & Ozbek, I. N. (1992). Narcissism and object relations. Psychological Reports. 71(3), 799-808.
López, A., Sanderman, R., Ranchor, A. V., & Schroevers, M. J. (2018). Compassion for others and self-compassion: Levels, correlates, and relationship with psychological well-being. Mindfulness. 9(1), 325-331.
Mahadevan, N., Gregg, A. P., & Sedikides, C. (2019). Is self-regard a sociometer or a hierometer? Self-esteem tracks status and inclusion, narcissism tracks status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 116(3), 444-446.
Maloney, P. W., Grawitch, M. J., & Barber, L. K. (2012). The multi-factor structure of the Brief Self-Control Scale: Discriminant validity of restraint and impulsivity. Journal of Research in Personality. 46(1), 111-115.
Mao, T., Pan, W., Zhu, Y., Yang, J., Dong, Q., & Zhou, G. (2018). Self-control mediates the relationship between personality trait and impulsivity. Personality and Individual Differences. 129, 70-75.
Miller, J. D., & Campbell, W. K. (2008). Comparing clinical and social personality conceptualizations of narcissism. Journal of Personality. 76(3), 449-476.
Miller, J. D., Sleep, C. E., Crowe, M. L., & Lynam, D. R. (2020). Psychopathic boldness: Narcissism, self-esteem, or something in between? Personality and Individual Differences. 155, 109761.
Moshagen, M., Zettler, I., & Hilbig, B. E. (2020). Measuring the dark core of personality. Psychological Assessment. 32(2), 182-196.
Murfield, J., Moyle, W., Jones, C., & O’Donovan, A. (2020). Self-compassion, health outcomes, and family carers of older adults: An integrative review. Clinical Gerontologist. 43(5), 485-498.
Muris, P., & Otgaar, H. (2020). The process of science: a critical evaluation of more than 15 years of research on self-compassion with the self-compassion scale. Mindfulness. 11(6), 1469-1482.
Neff, K. D. (2011). Self‐compassion, self‐esteem, and well‐being. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 5(1), 1-12.
Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity. 2(3), 223-250.
Neff, K. D. (2009). The role of self-compassion in development: A healthier way to relate to oneself. Human Development. 52(4), 211-214.
Neff, K. D. (2016). The self-compassion scale is a valid and theoretically coherent measure of self-compassion. Mindfulness. 7(1), 264-274.
Neff, K. D., Kirkpatrick, K. L., & Rude, S. S. (2007). Self-compassion and adaptive psychological functioning. Journal of Research in Personality. 41(1), 139-154.
Neff, K. D., Tóth-Király, I., Yarnell, L. M., Arimitsu, K., Castilho, P., Ghorbani, N., …, & Kotsou, I. (2019). Examining the factor structure of the Self-Compassion Scale in 20 diverse samples: Support for use of a total score and six subscale scores. Psychological Assessment. 31(1), 27-45.
Nevicka, B., & Sedikides, C. (2021). Employee narcissism and promotability prospects. Journal of Personality. 89, 847-862.
O'Reilly III, C. A., & Doerr, B. (2020). Conceit and deceit: Lying, cheating, and stealing among grandiose narcissists. Personality and Individual Differences. 154, 109627.
Paulhus, D. L. (1998). Interpersonal and intrapsychic adaptiveness of trait self-enhancement: A mixed blessing? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 74(5), 1197-1208.
Pincus, A. L., Ansell, E. B., Pimentel, C. A., Cain, N. M., Wright, A. G., & Levy, K. N. (2009). Initial construction and validation of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory. Psychological Assessment. 21(3), 365-379.
Raskin, R., & Hall, C. S. (1981). The Narcissistic Personality Inventory: Alternative form reliability and further evidence of construct validity. Journal of Personality Assessment. 45(2), 159-162.
Robbins, S. B., & Patton, M. J. (1985). Self-psychology and career development: Construction of the Superiority and Goal Instability scales. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 32(2), 221-231.
Roche, M. J., Pincus, A. L., Lukowitsky, M. R., Ménard, K. S., & Conroy, D. E. (2013). An integrative approach to the assessment of narcissism. Journal of Personality Assessment. 95(3), 237-248.
Rogoza, R., Cieciuch, J., Strus, W., & Baran, T. (2019). Seeking a common framework for research on narcissism: An attempt to integrate the different faces of narcissism within the circumplex of personality metatraits. European Journal of Personality. 33(4), 437-455.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSE). Acceptance and commitment therapy. Measures Package. (52), 61-62.
Rude, S., Gortner, E. M., & Pennebaker, J. (2004). Language use of depressed and depression-vulnerable college students. Cognition & Emotion. 18(8), 1121-1133.
Russ, E., Shedler, J., Bradley, R., & Westen, D. (2008). Refining the construct of narcissistic personality disorder: Diagnostic criteria and subtypes. American Journal of Psychiatry. 165(11), 1473-1481.
Sedikides, C. (1993). Assessment, enhancement, and verification determinants of the self-evaluation process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 65(2), 317-338.
Skodol, A. E., Morey, L. C., Bender, D. S., & Oldham, J. M. (2013). The ironic fate of the personality disorders in DSM-5. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment. 4(4), 342.
Smith, L. C., & Robbins, S. B. (1988). Validity of the Goal Instability scale (modified) as a predictor of adjustment in retirement-age adults. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 35(3), 325-329.
Tangney, J. P., Baumeister, R. F., & Boone, A. L. (2004). High self-control predicts good adjustment, less pathology, better grades, and interpersonal success. Journal of Personality. 72(2), 271-324.
Tiwari, G. K., Pandey, R., Rai, P. K., Pandey, R., Verma, Y., Parihar, P., …, & Mandal, S. P. (2020). Self-compassion as an intrapersonal resource of perceived positive mental health outcomes: A thematic analysis. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. 23(7), 550-569.
Trumpeter, N., Watson, P. J., & O’Leary, B. J. (2006). Factors within multidimensional perfectionism scales: Complexity of relationships with self-esteem, narcissism, self-control, and self-criticism. Personality and Individual Differences. 41(5), 849-860.
Watson, P. J. (2005). Complexity of narcissism and a continuum of self-esteem regulation. Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry. 8, 336-338.
Watson, P. J., Biderman, M. D., & Sawrie, S. M. (1994). Empathy, sex role orientation, and narcissism. Sex Roles. 30(9-10), 701-723.
Watson, P. J., Hickman, S. E., & Morris, R. J. (1996). Self-reported narcissism and shame: Testing the defensive self-esteem and continuum hypotheses. Personality and Individual Differences. 21(2), 253-259.
Watson, P. J., Sawrie, S. M., Greene, R. L., & Arredondo, R. (2002). Narcissism and depression: MMPI-2 evidence for the continuum hypothesis in clinical samples. Journal of Personality Assessment. 79(1), 85-109.
Watson, P. J., Taylor, D., & Morris, R. J. (1987). Narcissism, sex roles, and self-functioning. Sex Roles. 16(7), 335-350.
Wills, T. A., Isasi, C. R., Mendoza, D., & Ainette, M. G. (2007). Self-control constructs related to measures of dietary intake and physical activity in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health. 41(6), 551-558.
Wilson, A. C., Mackintosh, K., Power, K., & Chan, S. W. (2019). Effectiveness of self-compassion related therapies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mindfulness. 10(6), 979-995.
 
 
Journal of Applied Psychological Research
Volume 12, Issue 3
December 2021
Pages 371-394

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 07 March 2021
  • Revise Date: 04 April 2021
  • Accept Date: 24 April 2021
  • First Publish Date: 07 November 2021
  • Publish Date: 22 November 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics