Linguistic Markers of Grandiose Narcissism: A LIWC Analysis of 15 Samples

Nicholas S. Holtzman; Allison M. Tackman; Angela L. Carey; Melanie S. Brucks; Albrecht C.P. Küfner; Fenne Große Deters; Mitja D. Back; M. Brent Donnellan; James W. Pennebaker; Ryne A. Sherman; Matthias R. Mehl

doi:10.1177/0261927X19871084

Linguistic Markers of Grandiose Narcissism: A LIWC Analysis of 15 Samples

Nicholas S. Holtzman, Allison M. Tackman, Angela L. Carey, Melanie S. Brucks, Albrecht C.P. Küfner, Fenne Große Deters, Mitja D. Back, M. Brent Donnellan, James W. Pennebaker, Ryne A. Sherman, Matthias R. Mehl

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56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Narcissism is unrelated to using first-person singular pronouns. Whether narcissism is linked to other language use remains unclear. We aimed to identify linguistic markers of narcissism. We applied the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count to texts (k = 15; N = 4,941). The strongest positive correlates were using words related to sports, second-person pronouns, and swear words. The strongest negative correlates were using anxiety/fear words, tentative words, and words related to sensory/perceptual processes. Effects were small (each |r| <.10).

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	773-786
Number of pages	14
Journal	Journal of Language and Social Psychology
Volume	38
Issue number	5-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X19871084
State	Published - Oct 1 2019

Keywords

LIWC
language
narcissism
personality
text analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Education
Language and Linguistics
Anthropology
Sociology and Political Science
Linguistics and Language

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10.1177/0261927X19871084

Cite this

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title = "Linguistic Markers of Grandiose Narcissism: A LIWC Analysis of 15 Samples",

abstract = "Narcissism is unrelated to using first-person singular pronouns. Whether narcissism is linked to other language use remains unclear. We aimed to identify linguistic markers of narcissism. We applied the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count to texts (k = 15; N = 4,941). The strongest positive correlates were using words related to sports, second-person pronouns, and swear words. The strongest negative correlates were using anxiety/fear words, tentative words, and words related to sensory/perceptual processes. Effects were small (each |r| <.10).",

keywords = "LIWC, language, narcissism, personality, text analysis",

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doi = "10.1177/0261927X19871084",

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AU - Holtzman, Nicholas S.

AU - Tackman, Allison M.

AU - Carey, Angela L.

AU - Brucks, Melanie S.

AU - Küfner, Albrecht C.P.

AU - Deters, Fenne Große

AU - Back, Mitja D.

AU - Donnellan, M. Brent

AU - Pennebaker, James W.

AU - Sherman, Ryne A.

AU - Mehl, Matthias R.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2019.

PY - 2019/10/1

Y1 - 2019/10/1

N2 - Narcissism is unrelated to using first-person singular pronouns. Whether narcissism is linked to other language use remains unclear. We aimed to identify linguistic markers of narcissism. We applied the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count to texts (k = 15; N = 4,941). The strongest positive correlates were using words related to sports, second-person pronouns, and swear words. The strongest negative correlates were using anxiety/fear words, tentative words, and words related to sensory/perceptual processes. Effects were small (each |r| <.10).

AB - Narcissism is unrelated to using first-person singular pronouns. Whether narcissism is linked to other language use remains unclear. We aimed to identify linguistic markers of narcissism. We applied the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count to texts (k = 15; N = 4,941). The strongest positive correlates were using words related to sports, second-person pronouns, and swear words. The strongest negative correlates were using anxiety/fear words, tentative words, and words related to sensory/perceptual processes. Effects were small (each |r| <.10).

KW - LIWC

KW - language

KW - narcissism

KW - personality

KW - text analysis

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IS - 5-6

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Linguistic Markers of Grandiose Narcissism: A LIWC Analysis of 15 Samples

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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