Relationship between impulsivity, approach-avoidance motivation, and grandiose narcissists and vulnerable narcissists

Abstract

The aim of this article is to investigate the relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism with self-report measure and behavioral tasks measure of impulsivity, as well as the distinctive role of approach-avoidance motivation in each relationship. In the present study, a self-report questionnaire on impulsivity (i.e., BIS-11), as well as two behavioral tasks of impulsivity (i.e., delay discounting task and probability discounting task) were administrated to individuals (N = 284), as well as measures of grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism, and approach-avoidance motivation. Our results show that grandiose narcissism predicts self-report impulsivity and impulsive decision-making in delay discounting task, whereas vulnerable narcissism predicts self-report impulsivity only. When testing the mediating effect of approach-avoidance motivation of the significant associations, results indicated that self-report impulsivity of grandiose narcissism is mediated by specific facets of approach motivation (i.e., Drive and Fun Seeking) and a component of avoidance motivation (i.e., fear reaction); degree of delay discounting task is mediated of grandiose narcissism is mediated by the fear component of avoidance motivation. Moreover, analyses revealed the presence of another competing mediator in these relationships. Impulsivity of vulnerable narcissism s not mediated by approach-avoidance motivation. This suggests that for each of the dimensions of impulsivity of grandiose narcissism, there are distinctive pattern(s) of approach-avoidance motivation.