If you’ve ever wondered if you might be a narcissist, there’s a new study suggesting that a certain mindset could indicate that you might be.
Psychotherapist Kathleen Saxton has highlighted that a significant 10-15 percent of the global population have exhibited narcissistic tendencies at some stage in their lives.
Some individuals suffer from narcissistic personality disorder, a mental health issue characterized by having an excessively high sense of self-importance, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Health professionals state that those with this condition often seek attention and lack the capacity to empathize or show concern for others’ feelings.
Beyond the clinical diagnosis, recent research has found a strong correlation between ‘victim mentality’ and narcissistic personality traits.
Experts observed 400 individuals and discovered that those who consistently perceive themselves as victims and vocalize this to their close ones might be exhibiting narcissistic tendencies.
While it’s completely understandable to behave this way following genuine trauma, the study’s experts noted that most participants were seeking validation.
This behavior is referred to as Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood, according to researchers.
Theresia Bedard from Lakehead University, the lead author of the study, stated: “I had some encounters with individuals that seemed to have a ‘victim mentality,’ and had the impression that they were very self-absorbed and self-centered. Then, when I came to Lakehead for my PhD I learned about the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood from the second author.
“I noticed that the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood described these people who seemed to have a ‘victim mentality’ very well. Then, I had did one of my comprehensive exams on vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, which I realized that vulnerable narcissism seemed to have a lot of conceptual overlap with the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood.”
The researcher explained that after encountering individuals with a ‘victim mentality’, she was able to corroborate the findings with her colleagues at Lakehead University.
The study involved 400 participants aged between 18 and 71, who underwent a series of assessments evaluating their psychological behavior.
Through this process, researchers measured the participants’ ‘victim mentality’ levels alongside various other factors.
Ultimately, the study revealed that the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood is closely linked to narcissistic traits.