Self-esteem and narcissistic traits in a clinical child population: The relation with type of aggression.

Abstract

To optimize effectiveness of treatment therapists may need a tailored approach towards children with different self-views. This study examined the relations between self-esteem, narcissism, and aggression in a clinical child population. A combination of high self-esteem and high narcissism was categorized as grandiose narcissism, whereas a combination of low self-esteem and high narcissism was categorized as vulnerable narcissism. It was hypothesized that grandiose narcissism would be related with proactive aggression and that vulnerable narcissism and reactive aggression would be correlated. To study these relations 43 children aged between 7 and 16, who were under treatment at a Dutch specialized mental health clinic, completed two self-report questionnaires: the Childhood Narcissism Scale (CNS) and an adapted version of the Competentiebelevingsschaal voor Kinderen (CBSK), a scale measuring self-perceived competence. Parents or caregivers filled out an instrument measuring frequency and type of aggression by their children. The results showed a significant positive relation between proactive aggression and narcissism and a significant negative relation between reactive aggression and self-esteem. However, no significant relations between self-esteem, narcissism, type of narcissism, and frequency of aggression were found. The relations between grandiose narcissism and proactive aggression, and between vulnerable narcissism and reactive aggression were close to being significant. In sum, children higher on narcissism were more proactively aggressive, whereas children with lower self-esteem were more reactively aggressive.