Narcissism and Prosociality: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE

While previous research has mainly focused on the general relationship between narcissism and prosocial behavior, the nuanced associations between different forms of narcissism and prosociality remain underexplored.

METHOD: To address this gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of 509 effect sizes from 124 studies and 152 samples (total N = 172,863) to explore the narcissism-prosociality link.

RESULTS

Using a three-level random effects meta-analysis, we found no significant overall relation between narcissism and prosociality. However, different models revealed distinct patterns: one-factor/total narcissism was positively associated with overall, self-reported, and public prosociality. At the two-factor level, grandiose narcissism was related to greater overall, self-reported, and public prosociality, while vulnerable narcissism was not associated with any type of prosociality. At the three-factor level, agentic/extraversion was associated positively with overall and self-reported prosociality. Entitlement/antagonism was negatively associated with overall prosociality and prosocial behavior in game paradigms, whereas narcissistic neuroticism was not related to any type of prosociality.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the relationship between narcissism and prosociality depends on the dimensions of narcissism being considered.