Researchers have found that individuals with higher levels of narcissism, especially those with agentic extraversion traits, are more likely to set unrealistic future goals. The new findings have been published in the journal Personality and individual differences.
Narcissism is a multifaceted personality trait with three main dimensions: agentic extraversion, antagonism, and narcissistic neuroticism. Agent extraversion includes traits such as dominance and desire for admiration; antagonism involves aspects such as entitlement and manipulation; and narcissistic neuroticism encompasses sensitivity to criticism and insecurity. The new study aimed to explore how these traits influence people’s propensity to set unrealistic goals, expanding on previous research that focused primarily on the more grandiose aspects of narcissism.
“Pathological narcissism is very stigmatized and misunderstood. My goal is to conduct research that improves our understanding of narcissism, with the ultimate goal of informing psychotherapeutic treatments,” said study author Ellen F. Finch, a PhD candidate in clinical sciences at Harvard University.
“I got interested in goal setting, specifically, because there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence that people who score high in narcissism set unrealistic goals, but there’s not a lot of empirical research to support that idea. I think it’s important to see whether clinical constructs hold up when examined empirically so that we can build data-driven models of narcissism.”
The study pooled participants from different settings, including university groups and online platforms, to ensure a diverse and representative sample. In total, 482 adults participated, completing a series of questionnaires that assessed their narcissistic traits, self-esteem, and history of manic or hypomanic symptoms.
The main tool used to measure their tendency to set unrealistic goals was the Set of Statistically Unlikely Activities Voluntarily Approached (WASSUP), which asks participants to rate the likelihood of setting ambitious goals such as becoming -become CEO or solve world hunger.
The researchers found that individuals who exhibited high levels of agentic extraversion were particularly prone to setting lofty goals that often exceeded realistic expectations. This trait not only encouraged individuals to aim for high personal achievement (agentic goals), but also extended to goals that could benefit others (common goals).
The antagonism was linked to goal setting focused primarily on personal gain, such as gaining fame or political influence. In contrast, narcissistic neuroticism showed a negative relationship with ambitious goal setting. This suggests that the insecurities inherent in narcissistic neuroticism may diminish the desire or perceived ability to set or pursue high aspirations.
When the researchers controlled for possible overlapping effects among the three dimensions of narcissism, as well as other psychological factors such as self-esteem and history of manic or hypomanic symptoms, they found that agentic extraversion emerged as the strongest correlate for establishing unrealistic goals.
“Individuals with high levels of agentic extroversion, a facet of narcissism, may be more prone to setting lofty and unrealistic goals,” Finch told PsyPost. “This pattern of goal setting can contribute to self-improvement, but it can also lead to disappointment and feelings of failure.”
The study sheds light on the role of narcissistic traits in influencing both the ambition and the feasibility of the goals that individuals set. But as with any study, there are some caveats.
“Our participants were recruited in non-clinical settings and we measure the personality trait of narcissism, not Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Therefore, we cannot directly draw any clinical conclusions (or NPD-specific conclusions) from this work,” Finch explained, adding that “goal setting is a complex and multifaceted process. In this study, we examine the likelihood that someone believes that a goal is set, which is only one component of the processes of broader goal setting.”
Future studies could expand to clinical populations and explore additional types of targets beyond those predefined in the WASSUP. The researchers also suggest a more dynamic approach to studying goal setting, including participant-generated goals and assessments of goal persistence and achievement, to better understand the practical implications of narcissism in planning and daily achievement
“I hope to continue characterizing the cognitive patterns associated with narcissism and use this research to inform clinical conceptualizations of pathological narcissism and NPD,” Finch said.
The study, “Aiming (Too) High: Narcissism and Unrealistic Goal Setting,” Ellen F. Finch, Sarah E. Kalinowski, Daniel L. Schacter, and Jill M. Hooley.
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