Narcissism as a Determinant of Deviant Online

PRZEDSIĘBIORCZOŚĆ I ZARZĄDZANIE 2018 Wydawnictwo SAN | ISSN 2543-8190 Tom XIX | Zeszyt 5 | Część I | ss. 209–220

Marta R. Jabłońska Department of Computer Science in Economics Institute of Applied Economics and Informatics Faculty of Economics and Sociology University of Lodz [email protected]

Radosław Zajdel Department of Computer Science in Economics Institute of Applied Economics and Informatics Faculty of Economics and Sociology University of Lodz [email protected]

Narcissism as a Determinant of Deviant Online Behaviours among Digital Natives

Abstract: Personality traits are related to a large set of human activities, including online ones. In this study a relation between narcissism, its factors and various online activities was examined. A representative for Polish adult digital natives sample participated in the research. It was found that highly developed narcissism is strongly related with these behaviours and that this relation is not straightforward as it can be associated with either narcissistic or non-narcissistic activities. Results and conclusions were presented and discussed along with study’s limitations. Key words: the Internet, narcissism, online behaviours, digital natives

Marta R. Jabłońska, Radosław Zajdel

Introduction Personality traits describe enduring characteristics of individuals expressed under various circumstances [Kakaraki et al 2017, pp. 1–14]. They have been found to be related to a large set of human activities, also affecting online behaviours [Kayiş et al 2016, pp. 35-40]. Narcissism is a trait of growing interest to miscellaneous researchers such as clinical, social-personality, cognitive, industrial-organizational psychologists, and sociologists. It is a heterogeneous construct marked by a grandiose, self-centred view, extraversion, a sense of entitlement, lack of empathy, egotism, a dominant, antagonistic interpersonal style, but also by vulnerable dimensions [Lowe-Calverley & Grieve 2017; Madan 2014, pp. 1740-1745; Gentile et al 2013, pp. 1120-1136; Miller et al 2011, 1013–1042; Campbell et al 2002, pp. 358-368]. Narcissists, in order to keep a positive sense of self, behave in a charming, entertaining, assertive, and attention-seeking manner as well as they are exceptionally concerned about physical appearance. Still, narcissists evince vain, exhibitionist, self-aggrandising socially insensitive, selfish, hostile and aggressive behaviours and tend toward denigrating others and occurring dislike in longer acquaintances [Wurst et al 2017, pp. 280–306; Wang 2017, pp. 138–148; Marshall et al 2015, pp. 35–40; Czarna et al 2014, pp. 42–45; Back et al 2013, pp. 1013-1037]. Narcissism is not inevitably a pathological trait, and narcissistic online activities may be perceived as an opportunity for the individual to go back to the tasks of self-development in a safer environment than a real world [Watts 2017, pp. 65–89; Morf & Rhodewalt 2001, pp. 177–196]. Notwithstanding, three narcissism-related needs may be satisfied by online activities: for attention and admiration, for self-disclosure and self-presentation, as well as for self-esteem [Blumer et al 2017]. The omnipresence of the Internet leads to its problematic usage and online behaviours affect the individual’s personality, so analyses of online behaviours provide new insights into understanding this medium role in forming peoples personality [Błachnio et al 2017, pp. 269-275; Sumner et al 2012, pp. 386-393]. This concerns especially young people, constantly connected to the Internet, unable to see the difference between the real and virtual world, so called digital natives [Prensky 2011, pp. 1–6]. They are very fluent and highly immersed in cyberspace, especially social networks – an inherent part of their lives that proffers virtual relationships that often become substitutes for a physical contact [Tapscott 2008, pp. 47–48]. It is crucial to research their online behaviours and habits as they constitute a risk population [Kakaraki et al 2017, pp. 1–14]. Previous studies on digital narcissism are diversified and concern social networking sites [Moon et al 2016, pp. 22–25; Sheldon & Bryant 2016, pp. 89-97; Lee & Sung 2016, pp. 347–351; Fox & Rooney 2015; pp. 161–165; Walters & Horton 2015; pp. 326–330; Buffardi & 210


Campbell 2008, pp. 1303-1314; Carpenter 2012, pp. 482-486], selfie pictures [McCain et al 2016, pp. 126–133; Charoensukmongkol 2016] or exposing personal information [Ahn et al 2015, pp. 375–381; Leung 2013, pp. 997–1006; Carpenter 2012, pp. 482-486; DeWall et al 2011, pp. 57–62; Bergman et al 2011, pp. 706-711; Mehdizadeh 2010, pp. 357–364].

Aim and hypothesis Basing on the current literature described above, we proposed following research question: Does narcissism influence online behaviours of Polish digital natives? And if so, is this relation limited to narcissistic online behaviours only? In other words, we were aiming at broadening knowledge about this cohort online behaviours in the context of narcissism as narcissistic culture is widely spread within this age group [Wang 2017, pp. 138–148]. We drawn hypothesis that narcissistic personality trait influences online behaviours including those typical for narcissists but also non-related with this trait.

Research methods Measures We used Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-40) as it is an accepted and proper tool to investigate narcissistic personality traits in non-clinical populations [Rad 2015, pp. 84– 93]. It is a self-report questionnaire developed by Raskin and Terry [1988, pp. 890–902] that examine seven factors: exploitativeness, exhibitionism, entitlement, superiority, self-sufficiency, authority, and vanity. NPI-40 comprises of forty pairs of opposed statements (one related and one unrelated to narcissism). Participants have to choose the statement that describes their attitude better, if it related to narcissism, scores with one point. An average value for the whole test is calculated to estimate the level of narcissism, as well as each of its seven traits. To evaluate online behaviours, we prepared a set of 23 activities. This set comprised of behaviour typical for narcissism as well as other traits (i.e. Internet addiction, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, online disinhibition1). Participants had to declare if they use to perform them (using 4-point Likert scale: definitely agree, rather agree, rather disagree, definitely disagree). At the end, participant were asked to estimate amounts of their Facebook friends, Instagram followers, YouTube subscribers and daily average time spent online.

1

For more about the online disinhibition effect see: Suler 2004, pp.321–326.

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Marta R. Jabłońska, Radosław Zajdel

Sample and procedure A total of 384 randomly chosen subjects from the digital natives cohort participated in the study what made the sample representative for this group with p-value=0.05. Sample structure is presented on figure 1. We used Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) to collect the data.

Figure 1. Sample structure

Source: own elaboration.

Depending on the number of grouping factors, the differences in the continuous variables among independent observation groups were verified with Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis tests and χ2 or Fisher’s test were used for categorical variables. Pearson correlations were calculated to evaluate the linearity of continuous variables.

Results Table 1 presents descriptive statistics concerning narcissism among participants. Table 1. Descriptive NPI-40 statistics

212

N

Mean

SD

Min

Q1

Median

Q3

Max

Total

384

14.46

7.047

0

9

14

19

34

Authority

384

3.53

2.098

0

2

4

5

8

Self-sufficiency

384

2.41

1.335

0

1

2

3

6

Superiority

384

1.74

1.366

0

1

2

3

5

Exhibitionism

384

1.96

1.753

0

0

2

3

6


Exploitativeness

384

1.67

1.296

0

1

2

3

5

Vanity

384

1.04

1.095

0

0

1

2

3

Entitlement

384

1.9

1.468

0

1

2

3

6

Source: own elaboration.

Due to large volume of data, only relations that have been statistically important will be further described. First, relations between narcissism and a set of behaviours usual for this trait will be presented, and latter those not typical for this personal characteristic. Narcissism-related behaviours Table 2 presents a group of behaviours typical for narcissistic trait and their relations to high level of narcissism. It also describes relations to narcissism’s seven factors when they occurred. The survey included five online behaviours related to narcissism and all of them are found to be related to high level of this trait. Table 2. Relations between high level of narcissism and narcissistic online behaviours Online behaviour

P-value

Narcissistic traits related to the behaviour

Possessing a public Instagram account

p