Research Challenges Assumptions About Narcissism and Relationships

New longitudinal study finds narcissistic rivalry, not admiration, linked to lower relationship satisfaction over time.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:26am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A translucent, ghostly X-ray image revealing the internal structure of a human heart, symbolizing the complex emotional dynamics within intimate relationships.An X-ray view into the intricate emotional landscape of romantic relationships, where narcissistic tendencies may have a more nuanced impact than previously assumed.East Lansing Today

A new study from Michigan State University challenges the common assumption that narcissists gradually damage their romantic relationships over time. The research, which tracked over 5,000 couples for up to six years, found that narcissistic rivalry traits were consistently linked to lower relationship satisfaction for both partners, but narcissistic admiration had no meaningful effect. The study also found that the rate of decline in satisfaction was no steeper for couples where one partner scored highly on narcissism, suggesting the long-term effects may be more nuanced than previously thought.

Why it matters

This research provides a more complex and nuanced understanding of how narcissistic personality traits impact romantic relationships over time. It contradicts the widespread belief that narcissists are initially charming but inevitably damage their relationships. The findings could help clinicians and researchers better understand why some relationships struggle and how partners influence each other's well-being.

The details

The study, published in the Journal of Personality, used longitudinal data to examine two key dimensions of narcissism: narcissistic admiration, where people try to impress others, and narcissistic rivalry, where they put others down to appear superior. The researchers found that narcissistic rivalry was consistently linked to lower relationship satisfaction for both partners, but narcissistic admiration had no meaningful effect. Contrary to earlier research, the rate of decline in satisfaction was no steeper for couples where one partner scored highly on narcissism.

  • The study tracked over 5,000 couples for up to six years.

The players

Gwendolyn Seidman

Lead author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University.

Michigan State University

The university where the research was conducted.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Narcissists have two different ways to maintain their inflated positive self-perceptions. They can puff themselves up by trying to impress others (narcissistic admiration) or they can put other people down to show they are superior to them (narcissistic rivalry).”

— Gwendolyn Seidman, Lead author and associate professor

“People often assume that narcissists are charming at first but gradually damage their relationships over time. Our findings suggest that the reality may be more complicated. Perhaps there is some turning point in the relationship where things change and satisfaction nosedives or perhaps the 'honeymoon' phase with narcissists is longer. Another possibility is that the harm caused by narcissists doesn't show up directly in their partners' overall relationship satisfaction.”

— Gwendolyn Seidman, Lead author and associate professor

What’s next

The researchers hope that by understanding how personality traits shape relationship experiences, clinicians and other researchers can better understand why some relationships struggle and how partners influence each other's well-being over time.

The takeaway

This study provides a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between narcissism and long-term relationship satisfaction, challenging the common assumption that narcissists inevitably damage their romantic partnerships. The findings suggest the effects may be more complex, with narcissistic rivalry, rather than narcissistic admiration, being the key driver of lower satisfaction over time.