Scientists from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, have studied narcissism in the workplace. They interviewed 312 employees at a manufacturing company and found that narcissistic personality traits were better liked by the bosses.
Being called a narcissistic is somehow insulting. However, the researchers said that narcissism is linked to higher energy levels in the workplace, which makes these people better regarded by their supervisors or bosses.
Narcissistic workers also tended to take on leadership roles more readily than other workers, whether they are asked or not, said the researchers led by Kong Zhou of the Huazhong University.
Narcissism in the Workplace
According to the team, narcissistic employees usually "have stronger internal motivations to release the potential energy stored in their bodies as to prove they are better than other employees. Hence, we predict that narcissistic employees may be more energized to exhibit taking-charge behavior in the workplace."
They based their research on the 312 employees they interviewed at a manufacturing company in China, said in a report by PsyPost.
All of the participants were given a survey questionnaire in which they are asked to rate how relevant a series of statements were to themselves.
Statements such as 'I have been compared to famous people,' and 'When I am at work I feel vital and alive,' are included in these questionnaires.
Moreover, the researchers categorized the varying degrees of narcissism to each employee based on their answers. Afterward, they compared their responses to the comments of their supervisors on their work performance.
The survey gave astonishing results as it revealed that peopled who tend to show more narcissistic personality traits have a tendency to be more highly regarded by their superiors and are more likely to be seen as taking the initiative and leadership in the workplace.
According to the researchers, the dynamic personality might be fueled by the narcissistic's desire for status and esteem, which is common to them.
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Narcissists Are More Psychologically Tough
The researchers suggest that these types of employees might have more psychological resources to make themselves feel more energized in their workplace. That includes their perception of superiority above others and their excessive demands for admiration.
At one point, narcissism may also be good for mental health. Previous studies suggest that narcissistic people are less likely to experience symptoms of depression, and they also tend to exhibit higher levels of mental toughness.
According to a 2019 study from Queen's University Belfast, narcissists were "horrible but happier" people.
"If a person is more mentally tough they are likely to embrace challenges head-on, rather than viewing them as a hurdle," said Dr. Kostas Papageorgiou, an assistant professor and Director of the MSc in Applied Developmental Psychology at the university, in an interview in 2019.
However, it is important to remember that although a part of being narcissistic is good, not all of its aspects are. Certain parts of being narcissistic could lead to negative results as well.
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