People who have strong grandiose-narcissistic traits often attract attention because of their charming but also dominant behavior – but this can quickly and suddenly turn into contempt, depending on the social context. The researchers Alexandros Raftopoulos and Human-Friedrich Unterrainer from the Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna asked why this is the case and, after reviewing the findings, presented a model that summarizes previous research on grandiose narcissism: If people with grandiose narcissism feel themselves and their status being questioned, they feel contempt towards another person who seems to have a higher status in the respective context.
Envy as a sign of weakness
Behind this contempt lies another feeling, namely envy, the two authors write. However, grandiose narcissistic people do not want to feel this envy because they consider it a sign of weakness. So inside of them they put the feelings of contempt over it. The disdain shown easily leads to a social conflict with the person who is simultaneously envied and despised.
The authors point out that highly grandiose-narcissistic people can develop envy of their therapist in therapy and also of their partner in their relationship. This can lead to treatment or the relationship being broken off because the dependence on the other person can no longer be tolerated.
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