The effects of vulnerable and grandiose narcissism on liking-based and disliking-based centrality in social networks

•We test links of two forms of narcissism to popularity in well-acquainted groups.•Grandiose narcissists received a larger number disliking nominations from peers.•Vulnerable narcissists received fewer liking nominations from peers.•Both types of narcissists were disliked by otherwise unconnected network members.•Both forms of narcissism are unique predictors of unpopularity in peer-networks.

The objective of this study was to test the effects of two types of narcissism on popularity in peer networks. Using data from four groups of well-acquainted students (N = 122), we investigated differential relations of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism with network centrality indicators of liking and disliking. Grandiose narcissists received a larger number of disliking nominations, indicating that they were actively disliked by their peers. In contrast, vulnerable narcissists were not actively disliked, but instead received fewer liking nominations. Both grandiose and vulnerable narcissists had a central position in terms of disliking, as they were disliked by otherwise unconnected network members. In all, these findings indicate that both forms of narcissism are unique predictors of unpopularity in peer-networks.