The children of narcissus: Insights into narcissists' parenting styles

Authors: Hart, C.M., Bush-Evans, R.D., Hepper, E.G. and Hickman, H.M.

Journal: PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Volume: 117

Pages: 249-254

eISSN: 1873-3549

ISSN: 0191-8869

DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.06.019

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/35577/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

The children of narcissus: Insights into narcissists' parenting styles

Authors: Hart, C., Bush-Evans, R., Hepper, E. and Hickman, H.

Journal: Personality and Individual Differences

Volume: 117

Pages: 249-254

Publisher: Elsevier

ISSN: 0191-8869

DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.06.019

Abstract:

Individuals scoring high on trait narcissism are characterised by grandiosity, self-centredness, and lack of empathy, resulting in troubled interpersonal relationships (e.g., with acquaintances and relationship partners). Do these troubled relationships extend to their own children? In this online study of 368 parents, we examined whether grandiose narcissists are less likely to adopt optimal parenting styles (authoritative) and more likely to adopt non-optimal parenting styles (authoritarian and permissive) and began to explore underlying mechanisms in terms of low empathy and unresponsive-caregiving. Narcissism was negatively associated with optimal parenting, and positively associated with non-optimal parenting, controlling for Big Five personality and attachment dimensions. Sequential mediation revealed that narcissists' low empathy predicts unresponsive-caregiving towards their child(ren), which in turn predicts low optimal and high non-optimal parenting practices. These effects are driven by narcissists' maladaptive traits. Exploring links between parental personality and parenting allows researchers to identify individuals at risk of poor parenting. Understanding the mechanisms that explain this relationship will assist in the development of effective interventions.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/35577/

Source: Manual

The children of narcissus: Insights into narcissists' parenting styles.

Authors: Hart, C., Hepper, E., Hickman, H. and Bush, R.

Journal: Personality and Individual Differences

Volume: 117

Pages: 249-254

ISSN: 0191-8869

Abstract:

Individuals scoring high on trait narcissism are characterised by grandiosity, self-centredness, and lack of empathy, resulting in troubled interpersonal relationships (e.g., with acquaintances and relationship partners). Do these troubled relationships extend to their own children? In this online study of 368 parents, we examined whether grandiose narcissists are less likely to adopt optimal parenting styles (authoritative) and more likely to adopt non-optimal parenting styles (authoritarian and permissive) and began to explore underlying mechanisms in terms of low empathy and unresponsive-caregiving. Narcissism was negatively associated with optimal parenting, and positively associated with non-optimal parenting, controlling for Big Five personality and attachment dimensions. Sequential mediation revealed that narcissists' low empathy predicts unresponsive-caregiving towards their child(ren), which in turn predicts low optimal and high non-optimal parenting practices. These effects are driven by narcissists' maladaptive traits. Exploring links between parental personality and parenting allows researchers to identify individuals at risk of poor parenting. Understanding the mechanisms that explain this relationship will assist in the development of effective interventions.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/35577/

Source: BURO EPrints