Fri Feb 21 11:29:59 UTC 2025: ## Narcissists Feel Social Pain More Acutely, Study Finds

**Basel, Switzerland** – A groundbreaking study published in the *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology* challenges the common perception of narcissists as impervious to others’ opinions. Researchers from the University of Basel have found that individuals with narcissistic personality traits experience significantly higher rates of social exclusion and suffer more intensely from the resulting social pain.

The large-scale study, involving over 77,000 participants across multiple experiments and real-world observations, revealed that narcissists report feeling ostracized more often than their peers. This increased exclusion isn’t simply a matter of perception; they experience heightened levels of anger, shame, and distress when excluded, particularly those exhibiting grandiose narcissism characterized by arrogance and a need for admiration.

Lead author Christiane Büttner explained that the findings contradict the initial hypothesis that narcissists might perceive less ostracism due to inflated self-esteem. Instead, the study suggests a heightened sensitivity to social cues contributes to their frequent experience of exclusion. Furthermore, the researchers posit that this exclusion may be a direct consequence of disruptive behavior or violations of social norms within groups, leading to their strategic ostracization by others.

The study also highlights a cyclical relationship between ostracism and narcissism. Exclusion, researchers suggest, can exacerbate narcissistic traits, potentially leading to a vicious cycle of social rejection and personality reinforcement. This feedback loop underscores the complex interplay between social experience and personality development.

While the study provides compelling evidence, the researchers acknowledge limitations stemming from its reliance on self-reported ostracism experiences. They advocate for further observational research to strengthen the understanding of this complex dynamic. The findings offer crucial insights into the often misunderstood emotional experiences of individuals with narcissistic traits and the social mechanisms that contribute to their development.

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