Inauthentic self-presentation on Facebook as a function of vulnerable narcissism and lower self-esteem
Version 2 2024-10-28, 04:11Version 2 2024-10-28, 04:11
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journal contribution
posted on 2024-10-28, 04:11authored byRM Grieve, E March, J Watkinson
This study was the first to delineate the role of grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism, in addition to self-esteem and self-monitoring, in predicting authentic self-presentation on Facebook. Facebook users (N = 155) answered questions about their personality as well as the persona they present on Facebook, and Euclidean distances quantified the congruence between the two personas. Self-monitoring (ability to modify self-presentation) was included as a control variable in regression analysis. As hypothesised, grandiose narcissism predicted more congruent presentation between the true self and the Facebook self, while vulnerable narcissism predicted a greater difference between the two personas. In contrast to predictions, self-esteem was not associated with congruence between the two selves; however, a follow-up moderation analysis revealed a significant self-esteem vulnerable narcissism interaction. Specifically, for individuals with average and low levels of self-esteem, there is more incongruence between the true self and the Facebook self as a function of increased vulnerable narcissism. Given the psychological benefits associated with authentic self-presentation on Facebook, these findings inform understanding of the negative affective processes of vulnerable narcissists and their self-presentation on this popular social networking medium.
History
Publication title
Computers in Human Behavior
Volume
102
Pagination
144-150
ISSN
0747-5632
Department/School
Lean and Simplification, Psychology
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Publication status
Published
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Rights statement
Copyright 2019 Elsevier Ltd.
Socio-economic Objectives
280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology, 220407 Human-computer interaction