New research published by the American Psychological Association suggests that narcissistic individuals experience social exclusion more often than others. However, this may not always be because they are actually being left out—rather, they may misinterpret social cues and perceive rejection even in neutral situations.
The study, led by Christiane Büttner, Ph.D., from the University of Basel, was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. It found that people with high levels of grandiose narcissism—a personality type characterized by entitlement, dominance, a strong need for admiration, and a desire for status—are particularly sensitive to perceived exclusion.
The Link Between Narcissism and Feeling Left Out
To explore this connection, researchers analyzed data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, a large, long-term survey tracking over 22,000 households. They focused on 1,592 participants who had answered questions about narcissism and feelings of ostracism in 2015.
The results showed that people with higher narcissism scores reported significantly more experiences of social exclusion.
To confirm these findings, the researchers conducted a two-week study with 323 participants. Each person took a narcissism test and reported past experiences of exclusion. Then, for 14 days, they used a mobile app to log instances when they felt left out or ignored. Once again, those with higher narcissism scores reported feeling excluded more frequently in daily life.
A series of experiments with over 2,500 participants further investigated this relationship. In one test, people played an online ball-tossing game where they were either included or excluded by other players. Another experiment asked participants to evaluate hypothetical social situations and judge how excluded they felt.
The results showed that narcissists were more likely to perceive ambiguous social situations as exclusionary, even when there was no clear sign of rejection. This heightened sensitivity suggests that their feelings of ostracism are not always based on reality.
Do Narcissists Push People Away?
The study also found that narcissism and social exclusion feed into each other. While narcissistic individuals feel excluded more often, their behavior may also make others avoid them. Experiments revealed that people tend to distance themselves from highly narcissistic individuals, reinforcing their feelings of exclusion.
To better understand this cycle, researchers analyzed 14 years of data from a national survey in New Zealand, involving more than 72,000 participants. They discovered that when people felt excluded, their narcissistic traits tended to increase over time.
Likewise, as narcissism increased, their likelihood of feeling socially rejected also grew. This suggests that repeated feelings of exclusion may actually fuel narcissistic tendencies, creating a self-perpetuating loop.
Real-World Impact: Social Conflicts and Workplace Tensions
The findings highlight the complex relationship between narcissistic traits and social dynamics. Büttner suggests that this cycle could contribute to workplace conflicts, social tensions, and even larger societal problems.
“If narcissistic individuals feel excluded more often, they may react aggressively or defensively, further pushing others away,” Büttner explained. “This creates a difficult situation where their perceived exclusion can turn into actualexclusion.”
She suggests that efforts to improve social interactions—such as conflict resolution programs in workplaces—should consider both sides of the issue. Instead of only focusing on how others respond to narcissists, interventions should also address how narcissistic individuals interpret social situations.
Takeaway: A Cycle of Perceived and Real Exclusion
This research provides important insights into why some people feel rejected more often than others. While some narcissists may be excluded due to their behavior, others may simply misread social cues and assume they are being ignored—even when they aren’t.
Over time, this pattern of perceived rejection and increased narcissism can create a difficult cycle that may be hard to break. Understanding this relationship may help in managing social conflicts, reducing isolation, and improving interactions in workplaces and social groups.
The research findings can be found in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
