# A computational framework to study the etiology of grandiose narcissism

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a computational model to understand how grandiose narcissism develops and is maintained, focusing on self-esteem regulation and behaviors like rivalry and self-presentation.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is a computational framework that formalizes theories of narcissism and identifies specific etiological mechanisms like tolerance development and rivalry cycles.

## Key findings

- Parental praise and overvaluation lead to grandiose-narcissistic behaviors and self-esteem oscillations.
- Tolerance development and a vicious cycle of rivalry are identified as key mechanisms maintaining narcissism.
- The model provides empirical targets for intervention and falsification.

## Abstract

Grandiose narcissism is characterized by ambivalent interaction behavior (i.e., grandiose self-presentation and rivalrous devaluation of others) and strong oscillations in self-esteem over time. In the light of emotional and social problems associated with these self-esteem regulation patterns and the increasing prevalence of narcissistic tendencies, causal and formalized models for prevention and intervention are needed. Here, we present a computational model of narcissistic self-esteem regulation implementing established, verbal theories of narcissism to identify key etiological and disorder-maintaining mechanisms. Across four studies, we show that parental praise and overvaluation lead to typical grandiose-narcissistic behavioral patterns (i.e., entitled self-presentation and rivalry) and strong self-esteem oscillations. Underlying these phenomena, we identify two maintaining mechanisms that offer targets for intervention and empirical falsification: tolerance development, characterized by an ever-increasing desire for social recognition, and a vicious cycle of rivalry, characterized by the frequent use of other-devaluing behavior and massive drops in self-esteem.