Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing
We conducted a diary study to examine how narcissism influences reactions to daily perceived partner phubbing (<i>N</i> = 196). We examined relationships between two facets of narcissism (rivalry and admiration) and personal and relational well-being, reactions to phubbing, reports of re...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/853 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849406819815915520 |
|---|---|
| author | Claire M. Hart Katherine B. Carnelley Laura M. Vowels Tessa Thejas Thomas |
| author_facet | Claire M. Hart Katherine B. Carnelley Laura M. Vowels Tessa Thejas Thomas |
| author_sort | Claire M. Hart |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We conducted a diary study to examine how narcissism influences reactions to daily perceived partner phubbing (<i>N</i> = 196). We examined relationships between two facets of narcissism (rivalry and admiration) and personal and relational well-being, reactions to phubbing, reports of retaliation, and motives for retaliation. On average, participants higher in rivalry reported lower self-esteem and higher depressed and anxious mood, whilst participants higher in admiration reported greater relationship satisfaction, higher self-esteem, lower depressed and anxious mood, and lower levels of anger/frustration. These patterns held regardless of whether they were phubbed or not. In response to partner phubbing, participants higher in rivalry reported, on average, greater curiosity, resentment, conflict, and retaliation. On days when participants reported higher phubbing, those with higher rivalry reported greater curiosity, while those higher in admiration reported greater conflict. When retaliating to phubbing, those higher in rivalry did so, on average, to get back at their partner and to seek support and approval from others, whereas those higher in admiration were less likely to report boredom as a reason for retaliating. Our findings contribute to the sparse literature on narcissism and phubbing by showing how narcissists respond to being phubbed. We discuss how phubbing may exacerbate their relational difficulties. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4ff438423e4d4b699dbdd475063a6171 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-4ff438423e4d4b699dbdd475063a61712025-08-20T03:36:15ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-06-0115785310.3390/bs15070853Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner PhubbingClaire M. Hart0Katherine B. Carnelley1Laura M. Vowels2Tessa Thejas Thomas3School of Psychology, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UKSchool of Psychology, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UKSchool of Psychology, Whitelands College, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UKSchool of Psychology, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UKWe conducted a diary study to examine how narcissism influences reactions to daily perceived partner phubbing (<i>N</i> = 196). We examined relationships between two facets of narcissism (rivalry and admiration) and personal and relational well-being, reactions to phubbing, reports of retaliation, and motives for retaliation. On average, participants higher in rivalry reported lower self-esteem and higher depressed and anxious mood, whilst participants higher in admiration reported greater relationship satisfaction, higher self-esteem, lower depressed and anxious mood, and lower levels of anger/frustration. These patterns held regardless of whether they were phubbed or not. In response to partner phubbing, participants higher in rivalry reported, on average, greater curiosity, resentment, conflict, and retaliation. On days when participants reported higher phubbing, those with higher rivalry reported greater curiosity, while those higher in admiration reported greater conflict. When retaliating to phubbing, those higher in rivalry did so, on average, to get back at their partner and to seek support and approval from others, whereas those higher in admiration were less likely to report boredom as a reason for retaliating. Our findings contribute to the sparse literature on narcissism and phubbing by showing how narcissists respond to being phubbed. We discuss how phubbing may exacerbate their relational difficulties.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/853grandiose narcissismphubbingdaily diaryrelationship satisfactionretaliation |
| spellingShingle | Claire M. Hart Katherine B. Carnelley Laura M. Vowels Tessa Thejas Thomas Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing Behavioral Sciences grandiose narcissism phubbing daily diary relationship satisfaction retaliation |
| title | Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing |
| title_full | Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing |
| title_fullStr | Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing |
| title_short | Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing |
| title_sort | phubbed and furious narcissists responses to perceived partner phubbing |
| topic | grandiose narcissism phubbing daily diary relationship satisfaction retaliation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/853 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT clairemhart phubbedandfuriousnarcissistsresponsestoperceivedpartnerphubbing AT katherinebcarnelley phubbedandfuriousnarcissistsresponsestoperceivedpartnerphubbing AT lauramvowels phubbedandfuriousnarcissistsresponsestoperceivedpartnerphubbing AT tessathejasthomas phubbedandfuriousnarcissistsresponsestoperceivedpartnerphubbing |