Greater Sensitivity to Reward Than Punishment Predicts Grandiose Narcissism but Not Vulnerable Narcissism

Associations between grandiose versus vulnerable narcissism, and Gray’s (1970) biologically based behavioral approach-avoidance (BAS-BIS) systems were investigated in Australian families. Findings indicated greater BAS than BIS predicted grandiose but not vulnerable narcissism, and moderate BAS/higher BIS predicted vulnerable narcissism. Therefore, biological underpinnings likely influence approach-avoidance orientation aspects of narcissism.