Researchers have examined the interpersonal correlates of narcissistic traits through ego-threats precipitated by experiences of external rejection or criticism. However, few studies have empirically investigated the role of sensitivity to criticism in the relation between vulnerable narcissism and negative affect. This study sought to examine this relation through comparing the mediating and moderating effects of sensitivity to criticism to shame and psychological inflexibility within three feedback conditions (positive, negative, and none). Three samples were utilized to assess these trait and state associations. Sensitivity to criticism demonstrated only moderating effects on the relation between vulnerable narcissism and situational anger in the absence of feedback while psychological inflexibility demonstrated both mediating and moderating effects on situational anger domains in all feedback conditions. However, as psychological inflexibility consists of lower-order constructs, future research may benefit from examining these in comparison with sensitivity to criticism and shame in the relation between vulnerable narcissism and anger.
","abstract_html":"<p>Researchers have examined the interpersonal correlates of narcissistic traits through ego-threats precipitated by experiences of external rejection or criticism. However, few studies have empirically investigated the role of sensitivity to criticism in the relation between vulnerable narcissism and negative affect. This study sought to examine this relation through comparing the mediating and moderating effects of sensitivity to criticism to shame and psychological inflexibility within three feedback conditions (positive, negative, and none). Three samples were utilized to assess these trait and state associations. Sensitivity to criticism demonstrated only moderating effects on the relation between vulnerable narcissism and situational anger in the absence of feedback while psychological inflexibility demonstrated both mediating and moderating effects on situational anger domains in all feedback conditions. However, as psychological inflexibility consists of lower-order constructs, future research may benefit from examining these in comparison with sensitivity to criticism and shame in the relation between vulnerable narcissism and anger.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Shankar, Sneha"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Eamonn P. Arble, Ph.D.","Chong Man Chow, Ph.D.","Stephen Jefferson, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2021-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:40Z","subjects":["vulnerable narcissism","mediation","sensitivity to criticism","negative affect","Clinical Psychology","Personality and Social Contexts"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1100","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Eamonn P. Arble, Ph.D.","Chong Man Chow, Ph.D.","Stephen Jefferson, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Shankar, Sneha"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2021-10-12T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["vulnerable narcissism","mediation","sensitivity to criticism","negative affect","Clinical Psychology","Personality and Social Contexts"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1100"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Researchers have examined the interpersonal correlates of narcissistic traits through ego-threats precipitated by experiences of external rejection or criticism. However, few studies have empirically investigated the role of sensitivity to criticism in the relation between vulnerable narcissism and negative affect. This study sought to examine this relation through comparing the mediating and moderating effects of sensitivity to criticism to shame and psychological inflexibility within three feedback conditions (positive, negative, and none). Three samples were utilized to assess these trait and state associations. Sensitivity to criticism demonstrated only moderating effects on the relation between vulnerable narcissism and situational anger in the absence of feedback while psychological inflexibility demonstrated both mediating and moderating effects on situational anger domains in all feedback conditions. However, as psychological inflexibility consists of lower-order constructs, future research may benefit from examining these in comparison with sensitivity to criticism and shame in the relation between vulnerable narcissism and anger.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The mediating role of sensitivity to criticism on the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and negative affect"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Eamonn P. Arble, Ph.D.","Chong Man Chow, Ph.D.","Stephen Jefferson, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Shankar, Sneha"],"dc:date.available":["2021-10-12T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Researchers have examined the interpersonal correlates of narcissistic traits through ego-threats precipitated by experiences of external rejection or criticism. However, few studies have empirically investigated the role of sensitivity to criticism in the relation between vulnerable narcissism and negative affect. This study sought to examine this relation through comparing the mediating and moderating effects of sensitivity to criticism to shame and psychological inflexibility within three feedback conditions (positive, negative, and none). Three samples were utilized to assess these trait and state associations. Sensitivity to criticism demonstrated only moderating effects on the relation between vulnerable narcissism and situational anger in the absence of feedback while psychological inflexibility demonstrated both mediating and moderating effects on situational anger domains in all feedback conditions. However, as psychological inflexibility consists of lower-order constructs, future research may benefit from examining these in comparison with sensitivity to criticism and shame in the relation between vulnerable narcissism and anger.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1100"],"dc:subject":["vulnerable narcissism","mediation","sensitivity to criticism","negative affect","Clinical Psychology","Personality and Social Contexts"],"dc:title":["The mediating role of sensitivity to criticism on the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and negative affect"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:40Z"}