Psychologically speaking, narcissism is a personality trait that every person possesses to some degree. Like all characteristics, it exists on a spectrum. That is, we all fall somewhere along the narcissism continuum. This conceptualisation of narcissism is often referred to as subclinical narcissism (hereafter referred to as ‘narcissism’) and is not to be mistaken with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) which is a clinical diagnosable mental illness affecting less than 1% of the general population [1].
Empirical research suggests that narcissism is on the rise in both Eastern and Western cultures [2, 3]. Narcissism is often characterised by a grandiose sense of self, an overconfidence in one’s abilities and values, an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and a number of intra- and interpersonal implications in everyday life [4, 5, 6]. Narcissists possess inflated self-esteem, perceive themselves as lucky and special, come across to others as charming and extraverted, and have preoccupations with fantasies of success and brilliance [7]. They are approach oriented, sensitive to rewards, and tend to believe that they can ‘win’ or are entitled to ‘prizes’ in their life [8].
Although research typically focuses on the relatively maladaptive traits of narcissism (e.g., entitlement, exploitativeness, social conflict), a wealth of research nevertheless argues for the adaptive traits associated with narcissism [9, 10]. For example, narcissism has been linked to high levels of self-confidence, resilience, and ambition [11, 12]. Similarly, narcissism positively correlates with measures indicative of psychological adjustment and fewer burnout symptoms at work, and inversely correlates with dispositional loneliness, anxiety, and dispositional depression [13, 14, 15]. Individuals high on narcissism are often elected as leaders by others, and place a great deal of faith in their success or aspirations [16].
Narcissistic traits have been linked to a range of intra- and interpersonal behaviours and consequences within the health sector, such as workaholism, compulsory shopping, and addictive behaviours [17, 18]. While some research exists linking narcissism with gambling [19], this research focuses specifically on narcissistic personality disorder and does not take into account the varying dimensions of subclinical narcissism or the many interesting correlations that can be derived for future research. For example, narcissists derive pleasure from their exploits, yet no research looks at the types of games played by those who would seek glory (i.e., do narcissists seek more strategic games or those with higher bets and higher chances of loss?). Similarly, narcissists believe that they are in charge of their own destiny, yet no research looks at whether they would engage in responsible gambling tools to assist in their online journey when gambling online. Furthermore, narcissists typically demonstrate a myopic focus on reward and heightened risk acceptance, yet no research has identified the misconceptions and mis-construal’s of social norms based on their own behaviours/play.
Understanding narcissism in relation to online gambling is fundamental. Not only are narcissism levels rising in the general population [2, 3], but given their tendency to act impulsively, misjudge emotion regulation, fail to learn from past mistakes, and feel entitled for rewards [5, 6]; narcissists are arguably more likely to gamble and engage in online activities that benefit the self. Through exploring personality (not personality disorder), a number of interesting correlations can be derived which not only benefits current research, but also offers exciting avenues for future development.
I am currently exploring narcissism and gambling by trying to answer a simple question: What type of gambler is a narcissist? Hold this space...
References
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[19]Rogier, G., & Velotti, P. (2018). Narcissistic implications in gambling disorder: The mediating role of emotion dysregulation. Journal of Gambling Studies, 34, 1241-1260.