Scientific Essay from the year 2020 in the subject Psychology - Personality Psychology, grade: A+, , language: English, abstract: This word is a critique of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) in terms of its reliability, validity and other psychometric issues. The Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) is a test that was developed by Raskin and Hall (1979) in order to measure the personality trait of narcissism for research in social psychology. It is the most commonly used test to measure Narcissism, in fact, it is used in over 75% of studies on Narcissism and is based on the definition found in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Research suggests that there are two variants of Narcissism: Grandiose narcissism which is characterized by arrogance, over-inflation of one’s qualities such as talent or intelligence, sense of entitlement, as well as the tendency to denigrate others in order to boost their own self-esteem. Vulnerable Narcissism on the other hand, is characterized by self-inhibition, and the desire for approval by others and emotional instability, but vulnerable narcissists still have unrealistically high expectations of themselves, such as the attainment of unlimited power and money and personal features such as beauty. The NPI was not meant to be used for diagnostic purposes, that is, for the clinical diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which is a mental illness characterized by an extremely fragile sense of self and significant life impairments. This disorder is generally assessed by using other tests such as the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI). The NPI is intended to measure the normal (sub-clinical) levels of narcissism that can be commonly found among the general population. This means that even if an individual obtains a high score on the NPI, it may not mean that they have Narcissistic Personality Disorder per se.

The Handbook of Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder is the definitive resource for empirically sound information on narcissism for researchers, students, and clinicians at a time when this personality disorder has become a particularly relevant area of interest. This unique work deepens understanding of how narcissistic behavior influences behavior and impedes progress in the worlds of work, relationships, and politics.!--EndFragment--

The book deals with the concept of Heavy Work Investment (HWI) recently initiated by Snir and Harpaz. Since its introduction the interest in the general HWI model has increased considerably. The book illustrates the development of HWI conceptualization, theory, and research. It deals with the foremost HWI subtype of workaholism. However, it also compares workaholism as a "negative" HWI subtype with work devotion/passion/engagement, as a "positive" HWI subtype. Most importantly, it addresses HWI in general, including its possible situational subtypes. In view of Snir and Harpaz's claim that the study of situational heavy work investors is relatively scarce, this certainly constitutes a promising step in the right direction. Finally, it deals with timely and important topics examined by prominent international researchers on Heavy Work Investment and such issues as: personality factors of workaholism, work-life balance, cross-cultural similarities and differences in HWI, work addiction and technology, HWI and retirement, and intergenerational similarity in work investment.

This unique reference surveys current theoretical and empirical advances in understanding individual differences in narcissistic personality, as well as the latest perspectives on controversies in the field. Wide-ranging expert coverage examines the many manifestations of narcissism, including grandiose, vulnerable, communal, and collective varieties. Narcissism’s etiology, the role of social media culture in its maintenance and amplification, and the complex phenomena of narcissistic leadership, spirituality, friendship, and love are just a snapshot of topics that are examined. The book’s section on intrapersonal processes delves into how the narcissistic mind works, as well as how narcissists feel about themselves and their peers. It also investigates narcissists’ grasp of emotions. Chapters explore associated personality traits and numerous other important correlates of narcissistic personality. New approaches to research, assessment methods, and opportunities for intervention—both immediate and long-term, are discussed throughout. In addition, trait narcissism is examined in an even-handed manner that incorporates state-of-the-art research into antecedents and consequences (both good and bad) of narcissistic personality. Among the topics in the Handbook: What separates narcissism from self-esteem? A social-cognitive perspective. The many measures of grandiose narcissism. Parents’ socialization of narcissism in children. What do narcissists know about themselves? Exploring the bright spots and blind spots of narcissists’ self-knowledge. Understanding and mitigating narcissists’ low empathy. Interpersonal functioning of narcissistic individuals and implications for treatment engagement. Offering nuanced analysis of a particularly timely subject, The Handbook of Trait Narcissism is fascinating and informative reading for psychologists and psychology students, as well as scholars in anthropology, sociology, economics, political scientists, and more.

Understanding the Emotional Disorders is the first manual for how to use the IDAS-II and examines important, replicable symptom dimensions contained within five adjacent diagnostic classes in the DSM-5: depressive disorders, bipolar and related disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders.