Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism as predictors of manipulation tactics

Narcissism is associated with the manipulation of interpersonal encounters to fulfil specific interpersonal needs. Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are driven by different interpersonal needs, yet it is unclear whether these differences appear in their manipulation tactics. The current study examined whether grandiose and vulnerable narcissism differ in their associations with Buss’s (Citation1992, Journal of Personality, 60(2), 477–499) twelve manipulation tactics. A sample of 280 undergraduate students completed the Pathological Narcissism Inventory and the Tactics of Manipulation scale. Structural equation modelling was employed in two stages, with a full exploratory model examining associations across all tactics, followed by a trimmed model retaining only significant paths (CFI = 0.993, SRMR = 0.041). Grandiose narcissism was associated with ten of the 12 tactics in the trimmed model, largely at small-to-moderate effect sizes, whereas three tactics related to vulnerable narcissism. Using Jonason and Webster (Citation2012, Personality and Individual Differences, 52(4), 521–526) protean approach as a theoretical context, it is suggested that grandiose narcissism’s approach motivation aligns with tactics oriented towards status and dominance. Vulnerable narcissism’s rejection sensitivity and avoidance approach support the use of lower risk tactics. The findings indicate that narcissistic subtype may differentiate manipulation tactic choice. Therapeutic contexts could consider focusing on manipulative behaviors in terms of narcissistic subtypes when planning interventions.