from University of Michigan and journal PLoS ONE
Narcissism, the personality trait characterized
by an inflated sense of selfâimportance,
overestimations of uniqueness and a sense of
grandiosity, may take a toll on health of men.
The University of Michigan study, published in
the journal PLoS ONE, examined the role of
narcissism on levels of the stress hormone
cortisol. Participants were given forty
questions to measure different components of
the personality trait. Two of the components
considered particularly unhealthy are
exploitativeness and entitlement. The
researchers say narcissists often resort to
defensive strategies like aggression when their
sense of superiority is threatened. Those
kinds of coping strategies are linked to
increased cardiovascular reactivity to stress
and higher blood pressure. The study showed
the most toxic aspects of narcissism were
associated with higher cortisol levels in men,
but not women.