Abstract
This study compared aggressive and nonaggressive students on narcissism and self-esteem scores. Three hundred and seventy students (176 boys and 194 girls) from three schools in Singapore participated in the study. The age range of students was from ten years to 17 years with a mean of 12.23 years (SD = 1.52). Consistent with our hypothesis, aggressive students scored significantly higher on narcissism compared to nonaggressive students. Also, as expected, aggressive and nonaggressive students did not differ significantly with respect to self-esteem scores. These findings contribute to a growing body of research that aggression is closely associated with narcissism for adults as well as children and adolescents, using an Asian sample. In addition, these results also provide some preliminary support that narcissism and high self-esteem though somewhat superficially similar, are distinct constructs conceptually and empirically. Aggression is closely associated with narcissism, and for the aggressive child or adolescent, it may be more beneficial to target intervention efforts towards having accurate self-appraisals rather than promoting an already grandiose self-image further.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Anderson, E. (1994). The code of the streets. Atlantic Monthly, 273, 81–94.
Ang, R.P., & Yusof, N. (in press). Development and initial validation of the Narcissistic Personality Questionnaire for Children: A preliminary investigation using school-based Asian samples. Educational Psychology.
Barry, C.T., Frick, P.J., & Killian, A.L. (2003). The relation of narcissism and self-esteem to conduct problems in children: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 32,139–152.
Baumeister, R.E, Smart, L., & Boden, J.M. (1996). Relation of threatened egotism to violence and aggression: The dark side of high self-esteem. Psychological Review, 103, 5–33.
Boivin, M., & Bergin, G. (1989). Peer status and self-perception among early elementary school children: The case of the rejected children. Child Development, 60, 591–596.
Bukowski, W.M., Sippola, L.K., Verlan, P., & Newcomb, A.F. (1993, March). The association between aggression, popularity and narcissism and children’s feelings of social well-being. Paper presented at the biannual meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, New Orleans, LA.
Bushman, B.J., & Baumeister, R.F. (1998). Threatened egotism, narcissism, self-esteem, and direct and displaced aggression: Does self-love or self-hate lead to violence? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 219–229.
Buss, A.H., & Warren, W.L. (2000). Aggression Questionnaire. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Calhoun, G.B., Glaser, B.A., Stefurak, T., & Bradshaw, C.P. (2000). Preliminary validation of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-Juvenile Offender. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 44, 564–580.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112,155–159.
Cole, P.G., Chan, L.K., & Lytton, L. (1989). Perceived competence of juvenile delinquents and nondelinquents. Journal of Special Education, 23, 294–302.
Eron, L. (1987). The development of aggressive behavior from the perspective of a developing behaviorism. American Psychologist, 42, 435–442.
Heatherton, T.F., & Vohs, K.D. (2000). Interpersonal evaluations following threats to self: Role of selfesteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 725–736.
Hughes, J.N., Cavell, T.A., & Grossman, P.B. (1997). A positive view of self: Risk or protection for aggressive children? Development and Psychopathology, 9, 75–94.
Jankowski, M.S. (1991). Islands in the street: Gangs and American urban society. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Kazdin, A.E. (1987). Treatment of antisocial behavior in children: Current status and future directions. Psychology Bulletin, 102, 187–203.
Kernberg, O.F. (1975). Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. New York, NY: Jason Aronson.
Kemberg, O.F. (1992). Aggression in personality disorders and perversions. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Kohut, H. (1971). The analysis of the self. New York, NY: International Universities Press.
Kupersmidt, J.B., Coie, J.D., & Dodge, K.A. (1990). The role of poor peer relationships in the development of disorder. In S. R. Asher & J. D. Coie (Eds.), Peer rejection in childhood (pp. 274–375). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Loeber, R. (1990). Development and risk factors of juvenile antisocial behavior and delinquency. Clinical Psychology Review, 10, 1–41.
McCarthy, J.D., & Hoge, D.R. (1984). The dynamics of self-esteem and delinquency. American Journal of Sociology, 90, 396–410.
McKinney, F., Miller, D.J., Beier, L., & Bohannon, S.R. (1978). Self-concept, delinquency, and positive peer culture. Criminology: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 15, 529–538.
Noshpitz, J.D. (1984). Narcissism and aggression. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 38, 17–34.
Olweus, D. (1994). Bullying at school: Long-term outcomes for the victims and an effective school-based intervention program. In R. Huesmann (Ed.), Aggressive behavior: Current perspectives (pp. 97–130). New York, NY: Plenum Press.
Papps, B.P., & O’Carroll, R.E. (1998). Extremes of self-esteem and narcissism and the experience and expression of anger and aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 24, 421–438.
Parkhurst, J.T., & Asher, S.R. (1992). Peer rejection in middle childhood: Subgroup differences in behavior, loneliness, and concerns. Developmental Psychology, 28, 231–241.
Patterson, G.R., Reid, J.B., & Dishion, T.J. (1992). Antisocial boys. Eugene, OR: Castalia.
Raskin, R.N., & Hall, C.S. (1979). A narcissistic personality inventory. Psychological Reports, 45, 590.
Raskin, R., Novacek, J., & Hogan, R. (1991). Narcissistic self-esteem management. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 911–918.
Rhodewalt, F., & Morf, C.C. (1995). Self and interpersonal correlates of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory: A review and new findings. Journal of Research in Personality, 29, 1–23.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Stattin, H., & Magnusson, D. (1989). The role of early aggressive behavior in the frequency, seriousness, and types of later crime. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 57, 710–718.
Tebbutt, J., Swanston, H., Oates, R.K., & O’Toole, B.I. (1997). Five years after child sexual abuse: Persisting dysfunction and problems of prediction. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 330–339.
Wilkinson, L., & APA Task Force on Statistical Inference (1999). Statistical methods in psychology journals: Guidelines and explanations. American Psychologist, 54, 594–604.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ang, R.P., Yusof, N. The relationship between aggression, narcissism, and self-esteem in Asian children and adolescents. Curr Psychol 24, 113–122 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-005-1010-0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-005-1010-0