Narcissism is defined as selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration, as characterizing a personality type. (© Hypnotik Photography - stock.adobe.com)
BERN, Switzerland — We’ve all encountered that person — the one who can’t stop talking about themselves, who believes they’re superior to everyone else, and who seems to crave constant admiration. These are classic signs of narcissism, a personality trait that’s received a lot of attention in recent years. But how does narcissism change as we age? A new study provides some intriguing answers, finding that these individuals will actually become a little more bearable when they get older.
Researchers from the University of Bern and the University of Münster conducted a comprehensive review of existing research on narcissism, analyzing data from over 37,000 participants across 51 different studies. Their findings, published in the journal Psychological Bulletin, paint a fascinating picture of how narcissistic traits evolve from childhood through old age.
Contrary to popular belief, the study suggests that narcissism isn’t on the rise. In fact, it tends to decrease as we get older. This decline begins as early as age eight and continues well into our 70s. However, the changes are relatively modest, meaning that while people generally become less narcissistic over time, the shift isn’t dramatic.
The researchers examined three distinct types of narcissism: agentic (characterized by feelings of grandiosity, superiority, and a strong need for admiration), antagonistic (involving arrogance, entitlement, callousness, and low empathy), and neurotic (marked by emotional instability and hypersensitivity). All three types showed a downward trend with age but to varying degrees.
Agentic narcissism showed the smallest decline, while antagonistic and neurotic narcissism saw more substantial decreases. This suggests that while people may become slightly less self-centered and attention-seeking as they age, the more problematic aspects of narcissism – such as entitlement and lack of empathy – tend to soften more noticeably.
What’s driving this decline?
The researchers suggest several possible explanations. As we age, we tend to invest more in social roles and relationships, which may naturally curb narcissistic tendencies. We also accumulate life experiences that can temper unrealistic self-views. Additionally, the responsibilities and challenges of adulthood might make narcissistic behavior less adaptive over time.
Interestingly, the study found that these trends held true regardless of gender or generation. This challenges the idea that more recent generations are becoming increasingly narcissistic. The data suggest that the developmental trajectory of narcissism has remained fairly consistent across different age groups.
Another key finding relates to the stability of narcissistic traits over time. While levels of narcissism tend to decrease with age, an individual’s ranking compared to their peers remains relatively stable.
“People who were more narcissistic than average as children remained more narcissistic than average as adults,” explains lead author Ulrich Orth, PhD, from the University of Bern, in a media release.
This stability was observed even across very long periods, suggesting that narcissism is a deeply ingrained personality trait.
The study’s findings have important implications for understanding personality development and could inform approaches to dealing with narcissistic behavior in various contexts, from personal relationships to professional settings.
“These findings have important implications given that high levels of narcissism influence people’s lives in many ways — both the lives of the narcissistic individuals themselves and, maybe even more, the lives of their families and friends,” Orth notes.
However, it’s crucial to note that these are broad trends, and individual experiences may vary significantly. Some people may become more narcissistic over time, while others might show more dramatic decreases than the average.
Looking ahead, the researchers emphasize the need for more diverse studies. Most of the data analyzed came from the United States and Western Europe, so future research should examine narcissism across a broader range of countries and cultures. Additionally, Orth suggests that further investigation is necessary to understand the mechanisms behind the observed decline in narcissism.
“One theory suggests that the social roles we take on in adulthood, for example as a partner, a parent, an employee and so on, lead to the development of more mature personality characteristics, including lower levels of narcissism,” the study author proposes.
As we continue to grapple with the impacts of narcissism in our society, this research provides a valuable perspective on how this complex trait evolves throughout our lives. It offers hope that, on average, the more challenging aspects of narcissism tend to soften as we mature while also highlighting the enduring nature of our basic personality structures.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers conducted a meta-analysis, which is a statistical method that combines the results of multiple scientific studies. They analyzed data from 51 longitudinal studies — research that follows the same individuals over time — that measured narcissism at two or more points.
The studies comprised 37,247 participants ranging in age from 8 to 77, with some studies following participants for decades. The team used sophisticated statistical techniques to account for differences between studies and to estimate overall trends in narcissism across age groups.
Key Results
The main findings show a gradual decline in all three types of narcissism (agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic) from childhood to old age. Agentic narcissism showed a small decline, while antagonistic and neurotic narcissism demonstrated moderate decreases. The study also found that an individual’s level of narcissism relative to others remains fairly stable over time, suggesting that narcissism is a stable personality trait.
Study Limitations
Most of the studies included were conducted in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe, with only one study each from China and New Zealand. This limits the generalizability of the findings to other cultures and ethnicities. The researchers acknowledge the need for future studies to examine narcissism across a broader range of countries and cultures. Additionally, while the study covered a wide age range, more research may be needed to fully understand narcissism later in life.
Discussion & Takeaways
The study suggests that narcissism naturally tends to decrease as people age, possibly due to increased social responsibilities and life experiences. This trend appears consistent across generations, challenging the notion that younger generations are becoming more narcissistic.
The research highlights the enduring nature of personality traits while also showing their potential for change over the lifespan. These findings could inform approaches to personality development, clinical interventions, and our understanding of how people change throughout their lives. However, more research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these changes, particularly the role of social roles in adulthood in shaping personality characteristics.
