Pros And Cons Of Narcissism

Narcissism is marked by inflated self-admiration as well as constant need to draw attention to oneself. Narcissists tend to feel a certain sense of entitlement for the praise and recognition of others, viewing everyone and everything as existing to serve them. Though they often make good first impressions, narcissists are typically disliked by others; they frequently engage in self-enhancing behaviours and tend to use others for personal gain. Narcissists prefer being viewed as assertive (i.e., want others' respect) and are less concerned with being seen as likable or agreeable. Though they are keen to take credit for successes, narcissists may respond with hostility and even aggression in the face of failure or criticism. This can be problematic

Additionally, narcissistic professors may even interpret questions concerning course material to be expressions of verbal disapproval. For instance, if a student asks a question in class, the professor may interpret it as a criticism concerning his or her teaching style (i.e., not conveying information successfully) causing the professor to react with hostility, possibly creating a reluctance for any future queries from students. This would subsequently negatively affect the classroom learning environment since students may be too afraid or intimidated to ask questions even if they are unsure of the course material. Relatedly, narcissistic professors may hold such a high opinion of themselves and their work that they may not feel the need to modify classroom material despite a need for adjustments as suggested by course evaluations; any negative feedback will likely be attributed to the incompetency of the students rather than the shortcomings of the

Though the desire for the respect of others can act as a motivator, possibly resulting in important research achievements, narcissism can also negatively affect this aspect of a professor's work. For instance, a narcissistic professor's hunger for recognition may cause him or her to resort to unethical and unacceptable measures in order to provide evidence in support of their research hypotheses (e.g., falsifying data). In addition, research often requires collaboration and other researchers may experience resentment if they are working with a narcissist who is attempting to take credit for research that is not entirely their own (e.g., in the publication of