Have you ever wondered why it sometimes feels like men are more likely to take charge, claim entitlement, or engage in behaviors that center on their own needs?
Turns out, science may have an answer.
A recent meta-analysis, which pooled data from over 470,000 participants and examined 355 academic sources, suggests that men are more prone to certain narcissistic tendencies than women.
This revelation, based on decades of research, sheds new light on how narcissism affects both genders—and it’s not just about self-obsession.
The study, led by researcher Emily Grijalva from the University at Buffalo’s School of Management, found that narcissism in men often manifests in ways that can propel them into leadership roles, boost their emotional stability, and increase their overall self-esteem.
But these traits come with a catch: they can also lead to interpersonal dysfunction, unethical behavior, and aggression—traits not typically seen as desirable in a long-term partner or colleague.
Grijalva and her team’s findings raise important questions about the role narcissism plays in shaping our interactions and leadership dynamics.
Is it a trait that helps some men succeed, or does it reveal deeper issues in how both men and women navigate their identities and social roles?
Let’s dive into the data, challenge some common assumptions, and explore what this means for both genders.
The Gender Gap in Narcissistic Traits
When we think of narcissism, many of us likely picture someone who is arrogant, self-centered, and obsessed with their own image.
But the picture is far more complex when you take a closer look at how it plays out across different genders.
For one, narcissism manifests in various forms, including leadership/authority, grandiosity/exhibitionism, and exploitative/entitlement behaviors.
Grijalva’s team didn’t just measure narcissism in general.
They dug into the nitty-gritty details, analyzing how men and women scored on these three distinct aspects.
And here’s what they found:
- Entitlement: Men were significantly more likely to feel entitled to privileges or special treatment compared to women. In fact, the gap here was so pronounced that it scored a d of 29, making it the widest gap between the genders. Men were more likely to exploit others and believe that their status or power warranted special treatment.
- Leadership/Authority: Men also exhibited stronger tendencies toward assertiveness, leadership ambition, and the desire for power. This gap scored a d of 20, suggesting that men were more likely to seek roles of authority or assert their influence over others.
- Grandiose/Exhibitionism: When it came to vanity, self-absorption, and exhibitionism—traits often associated with narcissism—there was almost no difference between men and women. This was the smallest gap, with a d of 4, indicating that both genders were almost equally likely to display these traits.
At first glance, these findings might not be surprising, especially considering the cultural stereotypes that often portray men as more aggressive and power-hungry.
But these results don’t just reaffirm stereotypes—they challenge them in interesting ways.
While men scored higher on entitlement and leadership, both genders exhibited similar levels of vanity and self-absorption.
This suggests that we may be overlooking the role of gendered social expectations in shaping how we interpret narcissism in women.
But here’s the twist: what if narcissism in women often looks different from the traditional image of grandiosity, and we fail to recognize it because of the way society encourages women to behave?
What if Narcissism Isn’t Just About ‘Me’ Behavior?
Here’s where things get interesting.
While the study clearly shows that men, on average, tend to exhibit higher levels of narcissism, there’s an underlying assumption we need to challenge.
The widespread view of narcissism as simply self-centeredness or vanity could be missing a crucial point: narcissistic traits can actually help people thrive—but only in specific contexts.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “leadership is lonely.”
Well, this rings true when it comes to narcissism. It turns out that **narcissistic tendencies like entitlement and leadership ambition are often linked to higher success in leadership roles.
Narcissistic individuals are often more motivated, confident, and willing to take risks—traits that make them stand out in competitive environments.
This is especially important in today’s fast-paced, power-driven workplaces.
That’s not to say narcissism comes without its downsides.
The study points out that narcissism can also lead to unethical behavior, aggression, and trouble forming healthy relationships.
But when you dig deeper, you’ll realize that these traits are more complicated than just negative personality flaws.
Could it be that some people—especially those in leadership positions—are drawn to narcissistic traits because they can fuel their ambitions, even if they come at the expense of interpersonal harmony?
Let’s also consider the role of gender stereotypes in this discussion.
While the study found clear gender differences in the expression of narcissism, it also pointed to something important: gendered expectations could be shaping how we view narcissism in women.
Women may feel societal pressure to suppress traits like assertiveness and entitlement—traits that are often seen as negative or unattractive when displayed by women.
If you look closer, we may be undervaluing the narcissistic behaviors of women simply because they are less overtly expressed.
So, before you dismiss the study as simply reinforcing old gender norms, consider this: maybe both men and women are displaying narcissism, but in different ways.
For example, while men might flaunt their self-absorption through visible exhibitions of power or entitlement, women could be doing so through more subtle forms, such as playing into stereotypical nurturing roles or quietly building networks of influence.
How Gender Roles Shape Narcissistic Behavior
Interestingly, Grijalva’s team also found that vulnerable narcissism, a form that involves low self-esteem, neuroticism, and introversion, showed no significant gender difference.
This suggests that both men and women may experience feelings of inadequacy and insecurity in similar ways, even if these feelings are expressed differently due to social conditioning.
But why is this important?
Well, it highlights a crucial point: narcissism isn’t always about being boastful and arrogant.
Sometimes, it’s about feeling deeply insecure, which can manifest as defensiveness or self-absorption.
In this sense, both men and women might be more alike than we think when it comes to the emotional struggles associated with narcissism.
But societal expectations often push women to hide these vulnerabilities, making them less visible.
In the bigger picture, this highlights a critical flaw in how we view narcissism.
It’s often assumed to be the province of the self-assured and dominant, which only strengthens the gendered stereotypes of who’s “allowed” to be narcissistic.
But if both men and women experience narcissism in different forms, maybe we need to rethink the way we classify, measure, and interpret these traits.
Narcissism Isn’t Just a Gendered Trait—It’s a Human One
The study concludes with an important caveat: not all men are narcissistic, and not all women are exempt from narcissistic traits.
As Grijalva pointed out, these are averages, not absolutes.
There will always be men who lack entitlement or leadership ambition, just as there will be women who exhibit these traits.
So, while the study draws attention to broad trends, it also encourages us to be cautious about making sweeping generalizations.
One of the most striking takeaways is the stability of narcissism over time.
Across 31 years of data, neither men nor women showed significant changes in their levels of narcissism.
This challenges the popular narrative that social media, selfies, and the rise of online culture are turning everyone into self-absorbed narcissists.
If anything, this suggests that narcissistic tendencies have always existed, even if they were less visible or less acknowledged.
So, if you post a lot of selfies, don’t be too quick to label yourself—or anyone else—as a narcissist.
There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than just a desire to look good online.
The rise of selfie culture may not be driving an explosion of narcissism, but it certainly gives us new ways to explore how these traits manifest in today’s world.
The Takeaway: Narcissism isn’t just about vanity or self-centeredness—it’s a multi-faceted trait that plays out differently across genders.
Men may display narcissistic traits in more visible ways, but women are just as capable of displaying them, albeit more subtly.
Understanding these differences can help us navigate relationships, workplace dynamics, and social expectations more effectively.
And while narcissism may come with its flaws, it also has its benefits—if we understand how to manage it.
