The influences of narcissism on the justifiability evaluation of anger expression

Abstract

In this study, we examined the relationship between the level of narcissism and justifiability evaluation of anger expression. Participants, 313 students, were asked to rate the justifiability of a variety of anger expressions by them as suffering victims, and answer the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-Short Version (NPI-S). Results indicated that the higher the sense of superiority and competence, which was an aspect of personality, the more justifiable they felt their unilateral expression of anger was. In contrast, the higher the need for attention and praise, another aspect, the less justifiable they felt their unilateral expression was. It was suggested, however, that individuals who had higher need for attention and praise tended to appraise suffering situations as severer, indicating that they would potentially evaluate anger expression as more justifiable. The results suggested that narcissism directly and indirectly involved in the justifiability evaluation of anger expression.