Research published by the American Psychological Association indicates that individuals with narcissistic traits are more prone to feeling ostracized compared to their less self-absorbed peers. This tendency may arise not only from actual exclusion due to their personalities but also from a propensity to misinterpret ambiguous social signals as signs of exclusion.

"Feeling ostracized is a subjective experience based on the perception of social cues by the individual. Some may be intentionally ostracized, while others may merely believe they are being excluded when that's not the case," stated lead author Christiane Büttner, PhD, from the University of Basel. "Our findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of narcissism are more sensitive to exclusion cues, leading them to perceive ostracism more frequently."

The study was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and focused on grandiose narcissism, characterized by entitlement, dominance, and a strong desire for admiration.

The research team initially analyzed data from the German Socio-Economic Panel involving 1,592 individuals who provided responses about narcissism and ostracism in 2015. Results indicated that those with higher narcissism levels reported experiencing more ostracism.

To validate these results, a two-week study was conducted with 323 participants who completed assessments on narcissism and recorded past feelings of ostracism. For 14 days, they used a mobile app to log moments when they felt excluded or neglected.

"Participants with higher narcissism scores reported feeling excluded more frequently in daily life, aligning with our earlier survey results," Büttner noted.

Further experiments involving over 2,500 participants examined the link between narcissism and feelings of exclusion through activities like virtual ball-tossing games and hypothetical social scenarios. The outcomes showed that people with high levels of narcissism were more likely to interpret ambiguous social interactions as exclusionary.

Interestingly, researchers found evidence suggesting that while narcissistic traits can lead to social exclusion, experiences of ostracism can also promote the development of such traits.

"Narcissism may contribute to social exclusion, but ostracism itself can also fuel the development of narcissistic traits," Büttner explained.

An analysis spanning 14 years using data from New Zealand involving over 72,000 participants revealed that changes in feelings of exclusion often preceded shifts in levels of narcissistic traits—and vice versa.

These findings emphasize the intricate relationship between personality characteristics and social experiences. Understanding this dynamic can aid in addressing workplace conflicts and broader societal issues related to isolation.

"If people with high narcissistic traits are more likely to feel and be excluded, this could contribute to escalating tensions in workplaces or social groups. At the same time, their heightened sensitivity to exclusion might make them more likely to react aggressively," she said. "These findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving interpersonal relationships and reducing social friction should consider both perceptions and behaviors involved."

Article: “Narcissists Experience of Ostracism,” authored by Christiane Büttner, PhD; Elianne Albath, PhD; Rainer Greifeneder, PhD (University of Basel); Selma Rudert (University of Kaiserslautern-Landau); Chris Sibley (University of Auckland). Published online Feb. 20, 2025.

Christiane Büttner can be contacted via email.