Narcissists, regardless of the type of narcissism, are less likely to wear the mask or get the shot.
- From May 16, the mask will no longer be compulsory on buses, trains, planes, and all public transport. But it will still be compulsory in hospitals and nursing homes.
- Narcissists who still chose to wear a mask were more likely to recommend others do the same.
- Grandiose narcissism can become pathological.
Drop the masks! From Monday 16 May, they will no longer be compulsory on public transport. The Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, announced it on Wednesday May 11, at the end of the Council of Ministers. For some it will be a relief, for others it won’t change much because they weren’t wearing it anymore. American researchers wanted to understand who these people are, who do not or only slightly respect barrier gestures. “At a time when people were encouraged to wear a mask or get vaccinated to help not only themselves but others, there was one personality trait that stood out to us as a possible explanation for those who didn’t want to. comply“, explained Peter Hatemi, lead author of the research. “My co-author and I had researched narcissism in other capacities before and it seemed like it might be strongly linked to these types of behaviors.” In a study published in Current psychologythey conclude that narcissism is indeed a risk factor.
Two types of narcissism
For the study, the researchers collected information from a sample of 1,100 American adults in March 2021. They asked them about mask wearing and their attitude towards vaccination, and about their stress about to the epidemic. At the same time, the participants answered a questionnaire designed to assess their level of narcissism. In psychology, two types of narcissism face each other:vulnerable“, where people seek to be accepted by others, and the “grand“, where they want others to admire them. The authors of the study point out that narcissism, when it is of a lesser degree, is an aspect of everyone’s personality. “We all have some level of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism.”, insists Peter Hatemi. “Without it, we wouldn’t function properly.” He points out, however, that this innate narcissism can be fueled by context and environment, as has been the case during the pandemic.
Less disciplined narcissists!
By taking into account the characteristics of the different participants, their perception of risk and the policies put in place in their state, the researchers arrive at a conclusion: the people most prone to grandiose narcissism were less likely to wear a mask or to be vaccinate. Participants more concerned with vulnerable narcissism were also less likely to wear a mask or get vaccinated if their personalities were self-centered. However, vulnerable narcissists more sensitive to the judgment of others were more likely to wear the mask and get vaccinated. “If you want to convince someone concerned with grandiose narcissism to wear a mask or follow other recommendations, make this constraint cool and unique to meet their need to stand outsuggests Peter Hatemi. For those who are sensitive to judgment, you can tell them that the barrier gesture in question is socially validated.
