New research published in the Journal of Personality indicates that having a highly narcissistic and antagonistic partner is linked to lower overall relationship satisfaction, though it does not necessarily cause satisfaction to drop at a faster rate over time.
The study challenges the common psychological assumption that romantic relationships with narcissistic individuals follow a pattern of high initial satisfaction followed by an inevitable crash into dysfunction.
Researchers Gwendolyn Seidman and William J. Chopik conducted the study to track how specific narcissistic traits affect romantic bonds over long periods.
Impact on partners
Narcissism involves an inflated sense of self-importance and a persistent need for excessive attention. While much existing research focuses on the narcissist, this study examined the secondary effects on their partners.
“Many theories on why narcissism is interpersonally harmful emphasize its potential effects on narcissists’ partners, not just the narcissists themselves,” said study author Gwendolyn Seidman, an associate professor of psychology at Michigan State University.
Seidman noted that the research specifically looked at the differences between short- and long-term effects of these personality traits. The findings document how these traits influence the satisfaction levels of both partners throughout the duration of the relationship.
