Why narcissists are unwilling to apologize: the role of empathy and guilt

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Leunissen, J.M. ORCID: 0000-0002-1639-3174, Sedikides, C. and Wildschut, T., 2017. Why narcissists are unwilling to apologize: the role of empathy and guilt. European Journal of Personality, 31 (4), pp. 385-403. ISSN 0890-2070

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1002/per.2110

Abstract

We hypothesized that narcissists would be unwilling to apologize for their interpersonal transgressions, and that
reduced levels of self-reported empathy and guilt would serially mediate this effect. Narcissism is characterized by
little empathy for the victim, which reduces guilt about
one's transgressions. Low guilt, in turn, is associated with
unwillingness to apologize. In Study 1, we assessed dispositional narcissism, empathy, guilt, and willingness to apologize. In Study 2, we assessed dispositional narcissism and obtained state measures of empathy, guilt, and willingness to apologize. In Study 3, we manipulated narcissism and collected state measures of empathy, guilt,
and willingness to apologize. Narcissism was negatively associated with (Studies 1-2) and decreased (Study 3) willingness to apologize, with this link being explained (i.e., serially mediated) by low empathy and guilt. Finally, in Study 4, we showed that antagonistic narcissism (i.e., narcissistic rivalry), but not agentic narcissism (i.e., narcissistic admiration), was negatively associated with willingness to apologize and apologizing behaviour. In all, narcissists are unwilling to apologize for their transgressions, as they experience little empathy for their
victims and lower guilt.

Item Type:

Journal article

Alternative Title:

Narcissism decreases apologizing

Publication Title:

European Journal of Personality

Creators:

Leunissen, J.M., Sedikides, C. and Wildschut, T.

Publisher:

Wiley

Date:

July 2017