Can vanity be fatal? It could be fatal in these gentlemen, according to a recent American study published in the journal Public Library of Science ONE. Narcissistic men have a higher level of cortisol in the blood, even when they are relaxed, conclude the work carried out by the University of Michigan. “The more men are narcissistic, the more their cortisol level increases”, specifies Sara Konrath, one of the authors of the study. With this rise in cortisol, narcissists are more exposed tohigh blood pressure and are therefore more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. >> More information on hypertension in our special file.
A double-edged sense of superiority
For the purposes of the experiment, the researchers objectively measured the level of cortisol present in the blood to understand how narcissism could affect health. For the purposes of the study, 106 students with an average age of 20 were subjected to cortisol tests and answered questionnaires on their personality.
An observation: this propensity to develop the stress hormone has not been observed in narcissistic women. How to explain this relationship between vanity and these health problems? It is difficult to know exactly what the reasons are. We know that narcissism goes hand in hand with high self-esteem and a tendency to overestimate one’s intellectual faculties, seductive capital and personal qualities, recalls Sara Konrath. The other side of the coin, a narcissistic personality generates rather negative effects on the relational level. A person who is too proud would show little empathy or even a high degree of hostility towards others, especially if they feel their self-esteem is threatened. It is this discomfort that puts unconscious pressure on narcissistic men, the study suggests. This tension would result in a rise in stress and an increase in blood pressure. >> To read also: Stress: what if we stopped wanting to be perfect?
Now it remains to explain to our friends who are a little too focused on themselves that vanity is not good for them (and for us). A complicated mission, narcissists being by definition too proud to recognize that they are stressed. >> To read also: Test: do you know how to let go?
