Conceptualizing Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissism as Alternative Status-Seeking Strategies: Insights from Hierometer Theory

Theory and research support a distinction between two forms of narcissism: grandiose and vulnerable. People high in grandiose narcissism are arrogant, extraverted, and authoritative, whereas people high in vulnerable narcissism are insecure, introverted, and diffident. I propose that a useful approach to understanding these two forms of narcissism is to view them through a socio-evolutionary lens. Guided by evolutionary adaptationist models of rank and, more specifically, by hierometer theory, I put forward a novel theoretical account of both forms of narcissism and examine contemporary research in light of it. Specifically, I conceptualize grandiose and vulnerable narcissism as two alternative status-seeking strategies. Whereas grandiose narcissism appears to operate as a status-promoting ‘hawk’ strategy, vulnerable narcissism appears to operate as a status-protecting ‘dove’ strategy. This parsimonious and functional account of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism sheds light on their similarities and differences, explains disparate and seemingly contradictory findings in the literature, and informs a better understanding of the paradoxical nature of narcissism.