Antagonistic narcissism fuels cold feelings toward mental health professionals

People with antagonistic narcissistic traits hold more negative views about seeking mental health treatment, largely because they harbor cold feelings toward psychologists and psychiatrists. A new survey analysis published in Personality and Individual Differences reveals this specific form of narcissism acts as a psychological barrier to pursuing therapy.

Psychologists refer to the discrepancy between widespread psychological distress and low service use as the treatment gap. Finding ways to bridge this gap requires understanding the specific beliefs and emotional reactions that keep people away from care. Researcher Marta Rogoza of the Polish Academy of Sciences led a team to investigate how different dimensions of grandiose narcissism shape these attitudes.

The Two Faces of Grandiose Narcissism

Grandiose narcissism is divided into two distinct dimensions. Narcissistic admiration involves a self-promotional strategy where individuals seek social approval and project confidence. Narcissistic rivalry is a defensive and antagonistic strategy where individuals protect an inflated self-image by devaluing others and acting with hostility.

Engaging in psychotherapy requires personal disclosure and accepting a vulnerable position with an expert. For someone high in narcissistic rivalry, this uneven power dynamic can feel highly threatening.

Survey Results Across Cultures

The research team conducted three separate survey analyses. The first surveyed 1,622 adults in Poland. It found narcissistic rivalry was associated with less positive attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Narcissistic admiration was linked to more favorable views.

A second study with 556 U.S. Adults confirmed the pattern and added a measure of emotional reactions. Participants rated how cold or warm they felt toward mental health professionals and toward individuals diagnosed with mental disorders.

Statistical models showed that cold feelings toward mental health professionals specifically accounted for the link between narcissistic rivalry and negative help-seeking attitudes. Cold feelings toward people with mental disorders did not have the same statistical relationship.

Feelings Toward Specific Professions

A third analysis with 647 Polish adults asked participants to rate feelings toward specific professional groups. Narcissistic rivalry was linked to colder feelings toward psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists. These cold feelings again explained the negative therapy attitudes.

Narcissistic admiration was associated with warmer feelings specifically toward psychotherapists, which predicted slightly more positive attitudes toward seeking help. Rogoza's team suggests individuals high in narcissistic admiration might see therapy as an opportunity for self-improvement.

Study Limitations and Future Directions

The research is observational and relies on self-reported data at a single point in time, so it cannot prove causation. It measured attitudes, not actual behavior in a crisis. The findings highlight that grandiose narcissism is not uniform in its effect on help-seeking.

Future research could track individuals over time to see if changing views of professionals alter willingness to seek therapy. Qualitative interviews could explore why those high in narcissistic admiration view therapy favorably-whether from a genuine desire for growth or a superficial pursuit of status. The study was authored by Marta Rogoza, Marta Marchlewska, Zuzanna Molenda, and Dominika Adamczyk.