German scientists have found that narcissism is largely determined by people's genes rather than their environment. nicoletaionescu - stock.adobe.com It seems that a—holes are born, not made.
Groundbreaking data suggest that narcissism may be determined more by people’s genes than their environment, as is popularly believed, per a study in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
“We found that parents’ and children’s narcissism scores were correlated, but this association was entirely genetically driven,” declared the authors of the study.
The study, helmed by psychologist Mitja Back from the University of Münster, Germany, set out to discover the origins of this off-putting pathology, defined by an inflated view of self and sense of entitlement, Science Alert reported.
While fairly rare, this trait has been linked to psychopathy and Machiavellianism, both of which share core characteristics ranging from a lack of empathy to manipulative behavior and grandiosity. Together, they form what’s known as a Dark Triad of personality traits.
Despite decades of research devoted to this personality disorder, no one was sure whether it was caused by genes, environment or a combo of both — until now.
To shed light on this classic nature-vs-nurture debate, researchers examined the life experiences, personality characteristics and genetics of more than 1,300 sets of twins.
They made sure to also examine these variables in their parents, partners, and any non-twin siblings in their families. All told, 6,715 participated in the study, according to PsyPost.com.
Each participant was given a personality test where they ranked, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much they agreed with certain statements.
Adolescents were asked about their perceived leadership abilities, feelings of being special, and desire for control while adults answered questions pertaining to their desire for admiration, attention, and social status.
By comparing the survey scores across the different types of family relationships, the team was able to pinpoint what percentage of narcissism originated from which source.
Sources included inherited DNA, socioeconomic status and the shared family environment.
The team found that while parents and children boasted similar scores, this association was almost entirely driven by shared genetics while the aforementioned other influences only played a “minor role.”
In other words, being self-centered runs in the family.
These findings run counter to traditional psychoanalytical arguments that claim that narcissism is the product of a cold parent who heaps their child with both praise and criticism in equal amounts. As such, this so-called condition is often treated with psychotherapy.
In light of these new findings, scientists may have to reconsider their approach.
“This finding calls for a fundamental shift in the search for the origins of narcissism,” the authors write.
Understanding the nuances of narcissism will be “essential for developing more effective means for dealing with narcissistic individuals in applied contexts, such as in psychotherapy, the workplace, and everyday life.”
