Perspective Taking and Mindfulness as Mediators of the Relationship Between Maladaptive Narcissism and Empathy

Abstract

We studied the relationships between maladaptive narcissism and three distinct forms of empathy: cognitive empathy, emotional contagion, and emotional disconnection. The sample consisted of 300 students aged between 20 and 27 years, from two universities in India. Structural equation modeling was used to establish anxious and avoidant attachment as precursors of maladaptive narcissism and to test the link of maladaptive narcissism with empathy via mindfulness and perspective taking. The results confirmed anxious and avoidant attachment as significant predictors of narcissism. Mindfulness acted as a mediator between maladaptive narcissism and the three types of empathy, and perspective taking mediated the link of maladaptive narcissism with both cognitive empathy and emotional contagion. Implications of the findings are discussed.