NARCISSUS ONLINE: AN INVESTIGATION OF NARCISSISM AND SELF-CONCEPT CLARITY IN RELATION TO ONLINE DATING BEHAVIORS

Abstract

Nemours studies over the years have provided extensive knowledge about the association between narcissism and romantic relationship initiation. With the increased interest in using online dating sites for finding sexual/romantic partners, it is important to examine the behavior of narcissistic individuals in online dating context. The current study systematically examined how grandiose and vulnerable narcissism (as measures of an inflated self-view), in conjunction with the level of self-concept clarity (as an additional measure of a fragile self-view) can influence a number of online dating behaviors (e.g., photographic self-presentation, inauthentic self-presentation, assertive self-presentation, self-disclosure, verbal behavior, derogatory behavior toward other daters after receiving romantic rejection, derogatory behavior toward the experiment/er after receiving romantic rejection, change in self-mate value after receiving romantic rejection, willingness to make a change in online dating profile after receiving romantic rejection.). Results and future directions are discussed.