Fay van Rossum Universiteit van Amsterdam
Relationship between aggression and peer rejection, narcissism and self-esteem among adolescents
Bachelor-scriptie
Pedagogische Wetenschappen Supervisor: Çisem Gürel Studentnumber: 10576304
Words: 4747 Date: 29-01-2018
Index
Abstract 3
Introduction 4
Aggression and peer rejection 6
Aggression and self-esteem 8
Aggression and narcissism 11
Discussion 15
Abstract
Aggression can be seen as a societal problem but also problematic on an individual level since it is known to be related to several problematic developmental outcomes. Therefore it is important to clarify which factors play a part in the development of aggression, so
treatment and prevention programs can adjust to this. Even though previous literature shows that peer rejection is a strong predictor of aggressive behavior among adolescents, not all adolescents respond to peer rejection with aggression. Also, a current clear view on how self-esteem and narcissism are related to aggression, and therefore how these personality factors might influence the relation between peer rejection and aggression is lacking. This literature review aimed to provide an overview on how self-esteem and narcissism are related to aggression and how these two factors influence the relation between peer rejection and aggression. Results show that adolescents dealing with peer rejection significantly display more aggression than others. Previous literature shows some contradicting results when it comes to self-esteem and aggression, however most empirical evidence seems to show that low self-esteem is related to aggression. High narcissism was also shown to be related to aggression.
The relationship between peer rejection and aggression and what is the influence of narcissism and self-esteem among adolescents?
Aggression and anti-social behavior among youths is one of the frequently discussed social problems. Even though psychologist and child developmentalists are trying to determine which genetic- and or environmental factors are responsible for the etiology of such behavior, the pressure from the society to prevent and reduce anti-social behavior and aggression remains. Aggression can be described as behavior aiming to harm others and engaging in physical or verbal aggressive behavior (Martin, Sigda, & Kupersmidt, 1998; Buss and Perry, 1992; Bushman & Anderson, 2001). Verbal aggression refers to aggressive behavior only expressed verbally. This includes making loud noises, yelling, cursing, insulting and calling out threats (Yudofsky, Silver, Jackson, Endicott, & Williams, 1986). Aggression can be found in various forms, however in the current literature review the focus will be on direct and behavioral aggression. Aggressive behavior during childhood is a relatively common act that generally reduces when children learn about social conduct norms and develop internal self-regulating processes (Guerra, Huesmann, & Spindler, 2003). However, for a minority of children this aggressive behavior is persistent. Persistent aggressive behavior during
childhood is a strong predictor for various developmental difficulties later in life (Wallinius, Delfin, Billstedt, Nilsson, Anckarsäter, & Hof van der, 2016). High rates of aggressive behavior can be seen as a societal problem since it is related to a decrease in the sense of safety among citizen and increased crime rates in communities (Regoli, Hewitt, & DeLisi, 2015). However, aggressive behavior can also be seen as an issue on individual level since research has shown that persistent aggressive behavior is, for instance, related to internalizing problems such as depression, anxiety and social exclusion (Haroz, Ybarra, & Eaton, 2015). Thus, since the display of aggression at a young age has been reported to be a predictor for various problematic developmental outcomes, it is important to prevent and/or treat
part in the development of aggressive behavior.
Previous research has outlined various environmental risk-factors for aggressive behavior. Among adolescence, one of these environmental risk factors is peer rejection (Wesselmann, & Williams, 2017). Peer rejection can be seen as a social phenomenon where one member is being avoided or excluded from social interaction by other members of the group (Masten et al. 2009). Adolescence is a time-period where parental influence reduces and peer influences increases (Chassin, Presson, Sherman, Montello, & McGrew, 1986; Mrug, Elliott, Davies, Tortolero, Cuccaro, & Schuster, 2014). As a result of this increased importance of peer approval and maintaining peer relationships during the adolescence, individuals become more sensitive to peer rejection (Graham, Bellmore, & Juvonen, 2008). Twenge, Greenberg and Kusche (2004) show a significant strong relationship between peer rejection and aggressive behavior. However, not all adolescents respond to peer rejection in aggressive manners. Previous research suggests that self-esteem might play a role in the development of aggressive behavior. When adolescents are excluded by their peers, those who have low esteem reported more aggressive behavior than the ones with a lower self-esteem (Reijntjes, Thomaes, Kamphuis, Bushman, Orobio de Castro, & Telch, 2011).
However, there are also studies showing that the relationship between peer rejection and aggression does not depend on self-esteem but rather the personality trait narcissism (Thomaes, Bushman, Stegge, & Olthof, 2008). A high score on the personality trait
narcissism seems to correspond with more aggressive behavior (Fossati, Borroni, Eisenberg, & Maffei, 2010). The current literature review will focus on the relationship between peer rejection and aggressive behavior among adolescents, and whether or not narcissism and/or self-esteem influence this relationship.
Aggression refers to behavior aiming to harm others, including hostile thoughts and engaging in physical or verbal aggressive behavior (Bushman & Anderson, 2001; Buss & Perry, 1992; Martin, Sigda, & Kupersmidt, 1998). Aggressive behaviors can be reactive or proactive (Zlatan & Omesh, 2015; Lobbestael, Baumeister, Fiebig, & Eckel, 2014). Reactive aggression is often driven by anger and is impulsive and spontaneous aiming to harm the other individual as a defensive reaction or out of frustration. Pro-active aggression is rather deliberate and calculated aggression usually aiming to gain extrinsic benefits at the cause of others (Zlatan et al. 2015; Lobbestael, et al. 2014).
Aggressive behavior, especially in the social context (e.g., classrooms), is often caused by interpersonal provocation such as peer rejection. Exclusion from group
conversations, birthday parties or bullying for instance are forms of peer rejection (Bierman, 2004; Cairns, Cairns, Neckerman, Gest & Gariépy, 1988). Forms of peer rejection can be seen as a threat to the ego which for some individuals leads to lashing out against others in aggressive ways. Previous research has provided a large body of literature demonstrating a causal relation between peer rejection and aggressive behavior (Buckely, Winkel, & Leary, 2004; DeBono & Muraven, 2015; DeWall, Twenge & Baumeister, 2009; Newcomb, Bukowski & Pattee, 1993). The meta-analysis of 41 studies from Newcomb and colleagues (1993) showed that adolescents who are repeatedly being rejected by peers have a stronger chance of displaying aggressive behavior than other individuals.
More recently, DeBono and Muraven (2015) investigated which interpretation of peer rejection was mostly associated with aggression through four experiments including
experimental manipulations of peer rejection. The study included 131 participants with a mean age of 18 years. These researchers suggested that peer rejection can be interpreted in different ways. On the one hand peer rejection can be interpreted as a sign of disrespect, which refers to a sign of lack of appreciation for the status of the person being rejected.
Feelings of disrespect can be described as a feeling of lack of regard or consideration from others (Wojciszke, Abele & Baryla, 2009), which may lead to aggression to prove one’s self-worth and regain the lost status (DeBono et al. 2015). However, DeBono and colleagues suggested that peer rejection can also be interpreted as a sign of dislike of the person being rejected. Results showed that this was seen as less hurtful and also less related to aggressive behavior. The results showed that feelings of disrespect caused by an experience of peer rejection was more powerful associated with aggression than the believe peer rejection was caused by feelings of dislike.
DeBono and his colleagues showed that peer rejection can be interpreted in different ways, however both seemed to be related to aggressive behavior. DeWall and colleagues (2009) tried to explain what reasons could predict individuals to respond to peer rejection with aggression through a series of experiments. The researchers hypothesized that
experiences of peer rejection and social exclusion causes individuals to misinterpret certain social information as hostile, which leads them to respond with aggression. The study
consisted of experimental manipulation where participants experienced a peer that refused to interact with them. Other experiments measured cognitive processes and how behavior of others was being interpreted. The results of this study showed that individuals who experienced peer rejection during the experiment showed more hostility related cognitive processes in comparison to socially accepted participants. These individuals who experienced more peer rejection also responded with verbal aggression more often than other participants. They also significantly reported actions of others as more hostile in comparison to
participants experiencing social acceptance. Further, the results showed that this hostile cognitive bias was associated with aggressive behavior towards others, even if they were not involved in the exclusion experience. What can be learned from this study is that individuals who experience peer rejection might respond with aggressive behavior because they tend to
process social information in a rather negative and/or hostile way, which causes them to lash out or protect themselves with aggressive behavior (DeWall et al. 2009).
Reijntjes and colleagues (2011) found corresponding results when it comes to the relation between peer rejection and aggression. Reijntjes and colleagues (2011) aimed to investigate which factors contribute to aggressive response after peer rejection among early adolescents through an experiment. The experiment consisted of participants, between ten and thirteen years old, receiving feedback from peers regarding their personal profiles, either negative or neutral feedback. Participants then were given the opportunity to retaliate towards the one giving the feedback. The results showed that participants who received negative feedback, also considered peer rejection, significantly showed more aggressive behavior. Further analysis of the results showed that hostile intent attributions mediated the relation between peer rejection and aggression. Hostile intent attributions refer to the assumption that rejection or negative feedback is intentional hurtful. This means that experiencing peer rejection leads to hostile intent attributions, which then again lead to aggressive behavior (Reijntjes et al., 2011). Similar to the results reported by DeBono and colleagues (2009), the aggressive response to peer rejection seem to be activated by misinterpretations of the intentions of others and assuming the worst, which leads to a self-regulated mechanism to protect the self-image and ego one has by acting out.
Now it has been established that previous literature provides empirical evidence that peer rejection is associated with aggressive behavior among adolescents (DeBono et al. 2015; DeWall et al. 2009; Newcomb et al. 1993; & Wojciszke et al. 2009), it is interesting to look into how aggressive behavior is associated with self-esteem and narcissism.
Aggression & self-esteem
Self-esteem can be described as the evaluation and the extent of which an individual likes oneself (Baumeister et al. 2003; Rosenberg, 1989; Robinson, Shaver, & Wrightman, 1991).
Self-esteem has been linked with aggressive behavior among adolescents in previous literature. Low self-esteem and with that, insecurities about the self, can lead to individuals lashing out at others in aggressive ways as a form of self-defense or to gain self-esteem (Wiehe, 1991; Kirschner, 1992).
Baumeister and colleagues (1996) convicted a literature survey of the then existing empirical literature regarding the relation between self-esteem and aggression, crime and violence. They expected to find that individuals with low self-esteem have the tendency to respond with aggression or violence after experiencing a form of negative feedback or criticism from others. Though, Baumeister and his colleagues found no evidence for this theory in their literature survey. Their results showed no direct link between low self-esteem and aggression. They did however show that aggression is mostly the result of receiving negative feedback from others, jeopardizing one’s superiority and high self-esteem (Baumeister et al. 1996; Crocker & Luhtanen, 1990). Baumeister and his colleagues now argued that aggression is the result of a combination of favorable self-view (high self-esteem) and situational factors. They suggested that ego threats are one of these main situational factors influencing this, referring to the threatened egotism model (Baumeister et al., 1996).
Rhodewalt, Madrian and Cheney (1997) also investigated the link between self-esteem and aggression. Their results were in agreement with those of Baumeister and his colleagues (1996) that there was no direct relationship between low self-esteem and aggression. However, when it comes to high self-esteem they did find a relation with aggression, especially when the individual reported an unstable esteem. Unstable self-esteem refers to individuals with a high self-self-esteem, however this self-view is fragile and very vulnerable to ego threats caused by feedback from others (Lee, 2014). When an
individual experiences negative social feedback from others this can cause an immediate drop in the self-esteem. Because the self-view relies mostly on these experiences and opinions of
others, this causes high daily fluctuations in the self-esteem (Lee, 2014). Others with fewer fluctuations in their self-esteem, established as a ‘stable self-esteem’, showed no relationship with aggression (Kernis, Cornell, Sun, Berry, & Harlow, 1993; Rhodewalt et al., 1997). A stable self-esteem refers to a self-view or representation about the self that is less influenced by daily events such as criticism, and remains relatively stable over time. Rhodewalt and his colleagues (1997) suggested that when the self-esteem is stable, negative opinions and evaluations from others would have less of an impact than for people with an unstable self-esteem. Individuals with high unstable self-esteem, therefore would have a stronger tendency respond with aggression since the negative evaluations from others has more of an impact on their emotions than for individuals with a stable self-esteem.
Donnellan, Trzesniewski, Robins, Moffitt, & Caspi (2005) also investigated the relation between self-esteem and aggression among early adolescents, between eleven and fourteen years old. These results did, in contradiction to the study convicted by Baumeister and colleagues (1996), provide evidence that low self-esteem was associated with aggression. For individuals with low self-esteem seemed experiencing negative evaluations and criticism from others to have a negative impact on their self-view. In order to prevent experiencing shame and humiliation they externalize the blame which causes feelings of anger and resentment against other people (Donnellan. et al., 2005).
The more recent study on the relation between self-esteem and aggression found complementary results (Teng, Liu & Guo, 2015). This meta-analysis included 52 studies, all investigating the relationship between self-esteem level and aggressive behavior among Chinese students. The researchers concluded that they found a medium association between low self-esteem and aggressive behavior. Students with lower self-esteem seemed to behave more aggressively than students with higher self-esteem. Teng and colleagues (2015) also argued that individuals with low esteem seem to use aggression to enhance their
self-esteem and protect their image from humiliation. This is in correspondence with the idea that when the individuals with low self-esteem are being confronted with negative feedback, individuals seem to protect themselves and try to maintain the favorable self-view by lashing out and using aggression towards others, also found in other studies (Donnellan et al., 2005; Kirschner, 1992; Wiehe, 1991).
In summary, previous literature concerning the relation between self-esteem and aggression has shown some contradicting results. Some literature suggests low self-esteem has no direct influence on aggression among adolescents, instead they found results
demonstrating the association between high self-esteem and aggression (Baumeister et al., 1996; Rhodewalt et al., 1997). However, others have shown some empirical findings stating a relation between low self-esteem and aggression (Donnellan et al., 2005; Teng et al., 2015) and explaining non-result findings was due to the way aggression was measured (Donnellan et al., 2005). Even though empirical literature on the relation between self-esteem and aggression seems to demonstrate that individuals with low self-esteem try to protect themselves from negative feedback by lashing out, resulting in aggressive behavior, uncertainty remains.
Aggression & narcissism
Narcissism can be seen either as a personality trait or as the personality disorder described by the American Psychiatric Association (Raskin & Terry, 1988). The current literature review will focus grandiose on narcissism as a personality trait. People who score high on narcissism scales have an unrealistic, and unjustifiably positive self-view especially when it comes to physical appearances and cognitive capabilities (Campbell, Rudich, & Sedikides, 2002; Cain, Pincus, & Ansell, 2008). Narcissists focus on maximizing their self-esteem and feeling superior to others to validate their grandiose self-image, even though they might be aware of the fact that they have not fulfilled this image (Borroni, Eisenberg, Fossati,
& Maffei, 2010; Brummelman, & Thomaes, 2015; Bushman, Thomaes, Stegge & Olthof, 2008). Narcissists show interpersonal coping strategies like blaming others or external factors for the negative feedback they receive. They do this in order to prevent their favorable self-view getting compromised (Campbell, Reeder, Sedikides, & Elliot, 2000; Farwell &
Wohlwend-Lloyd, 1998; John & Robins, 1994). To maintain the grandiose image narcissists, have the tendency to seek to dominate others to seem- and feel superior to their surroundings (Carroll, 1987). When narcissists are being confronted with negative evaluations and
feedback from others and their surroundings, they have might lash out in order to protect the favorable view they have of themselves (Konrath, Bushman, & Campbell, 2000).
Narcissism was only recently divided into different constructs (Cain et al. 2008). Prior researchers conceptualized narcissism as a single construct, however recent literature shows that narcissism can take on various forms of conduct behavior. For instance, some researchers show that narcissists experience social hypersensitivity even though other researchers report social insensitivity (Besser & Priel, 2010; Exline, Single, Lobel & Geyer, 2004). To reconcile these contradictions, it was then suggested that narcissists could be derived into two subtypes; grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism. Grandiose narcissism can be described as people with extreme high self-esteem, high levels of impulsivity, arrogant and inconsiderate attitudes towards their surroundings (Zeigler-Hill, Clark, & Pickard, 2008; Rose, 2002; Foster & Trimm, 2008; Miller, Lynam, Hyatt, & Campbell, 2017). Grandiose narcissists seem to enhance their self-esteem and superiority through behavior that might be harmful to others (Campbell, Bush, Brunell, & Shelton, 2005; Rose, 2002). The vulnerable narcissist can also be seen as arrogant, inconsiderate and selfish, even though at the same time as more timid and insecure (Pincus & Lukowitsky, 2010; Millet et al. 2017). This distinction however was recently criticized by other researchers who believe narcissists can’t be derived into two different categories, but narcissist can react differently depending on the situation and
surroundings (Gore & Wdiger, 2016). This would mean that narcissists might also act aggressively depending on the situation and attitude at that particular moment, rather than what subtype of narcissism they affiliate with.
Lobbestael, Baumeister, Fiebig and Eckel (2014) investigated the relationship between the two subtypes of narcissism and reactive- and proactive aggression, and whether or not there were differences in these associations. The results showed that no matter which subtype of narcissism an individual is associated with, both vulnerable- and grandiose narcissism was associated with aggression. This means that even though narcissists might display different attitudes depending on the situation, the tendency to show aggressive behavior remains. Additionally, the thought that one specific subtype would predict aggressive behavior seems to be unsupported (Lobbestael et al., 2014).
One of the situational factors that could trigger narcissist to behave aggressively is situations where individuals are dealing with ego threats (Bushman and Baumeister, 1996; 1998). The threatened egotism model is often referred when explaining the relation between narcissism and aggression (Baumeister et al., 1996; Konrath, 2006). This theoretical model described that narcissistic individuals who are being confronted with ego threats that are in contradiction with the favorable self-view they have of themselves, they protect themselves through externalizing blame which leads to lash out and aggressive behavior (Baumeister, Catanese, & Wallace, 2002; Baumeister, Smart & Boden, 1996). Negative interpersonal feedback will cause narcissistic individuals to feel provoked which can cause these individuals to respond and protect themselves possibly through anger and aggression (Rhodewalt & Morf, 1995).
Bushman and Baumeister (1996) conducted two experimental studies investigating the relationship between narcissism, aggression and threatened egotism. In these
behavior was measured by giving participants the opportunity to aggress against their rejecter. Results showed that participants got the opportunity to aggress against the rejecter. Also, when participants scored high on narcissism, the aggressive responses after
experiencing ego threats were the strongest.
Donnellan and his colleagues (2005) researched the relation between self-esteem and aggression and how narcissism plays a part this. The results showed that low self-esteem and high narcissism were both independently significantly associated with aggression. However, this effect was the strongest when narcissism was added to the equation. In other words, this study shows that low self-esteem in combination with high narcissism strongly predicts aggressive behavior.
Twenge and Campbell (2003) investigated the relation between aggression and narcissism and peer rejection among adolescents, through four empirical studies. They investigated the level of narcissism and whether or not this was associated with aggressive behavior after the experience of peer rejection. The results showed that narcissism was positively related to aggression after experiencing peer rejection. This means that individuals who score high on narcissism also showed more aggression. This is in correspondence with results found by Donnellan and colleagues (2015) and Bushman and Baumeister (1996). Narcissism was not related to aggression after the individuals experienced social acceptance. In other words, individuals high in narcissism only show aggressive behavior after a negative experience such as peer rejection. Positive experiences such as social acceptance won’t cause them to act aggressively (Twenge & Campbell, 2003).
Barry, Thompson, Lochman, Adler & Hill (2007) also investigated the link between narcissism and aggression. They showed that narcissism was significantly related to both proactive- and reactive aggression among adolescents.
aggression seems to be clear on the fact that narcissistic personalities also show more aggressive behavior. Especially when narcissists were confronted with ego threats such as negative evaluations (Bushman et al., 1996; Donnellan et al., 2005) or after experiencing peer rejection (Twenge & Campbell, 2003). Results also show that even though self-esteem and narcisisism seem to be two different constructs, low self-esteem in combination with high narcissism was shown to be strongest predictor for aggression among adolescents.
Discussion
The current literature review aimed to describe the content of the existing literature on the association between aggression and peer rejection and how self-esteem and narcissism influence this relation, and to provide an overview of the results and research methods used in these articles. First, the relation between peer rejection and aggression was discussed. Next, the relation between self-esteem and aggression and at last the relation between narcissism and aggression. The literature overview confirmed the expectations that peer rejection is related to aggression, and that narcissism seems to play a part in this association. Even though the current empirical literature is less clear on the relation between self-esteem and aggression, the most empirical substantial theory is that low self-esteem seems to predict aggression among adolescents. Low self-esteem in combination with high narcissism seems to be strongly related to aggression when individuals are confronted with ego threats, like peer rejection. In other words, the relation between peer rejection and narcissism seems to be mediated by low self-esteem and high narcissism.
In order to provide an answer for the aim of the study, first the relation between aggression and peer rejection was discussed. Previous literature supports the prediction that peer rejection can lead to aggressive behavior. Peer rejection is associated with feelings of disrespect and disregard of one’s social status, which can cause feelings of frustration, anger and make an individual to respond with aggression (DeBono et al., 2015).
Next up the current literature review examined the relation between aggression and self-esteem. Previous literature regarding this relation did not provide a clear answer. Even though there was empirical evidence found for the relation between low self-esteem and aggression, there are others who found no direct relation between low self-esteem and
aggression, but instead found a relation between high self-esteem and aggression. Because of this inconsistency in current literature regarding self-esteem and aggression, there is no clear answer yet to whether or how self-esteem influences the relation between peer rejection and aggression.
Finally, the relation between aggression and the personality trait narcissism was studied. Narcissists have grandiose and unrealistic positive self-views which can lead them to behave aggressively when someone’s threatens or contradicts this self-view. Previous
literature provided sufficient empirical evidence to state that narcissism is related to
aggression. More specifically, individuals who score high on the personality trait narcissism are more prone to respond with aggression when they feel provoked. Peer rejection can be seen as provocation, which provides a possible answer to the research question; high narcissism seems to have a mediating influence on the relation between peer rejection and aggression.
It is interesting to further discuss the discrepancy found in scientific literature on the relation between self-esteem and aggression. It is interesting to into possible explanations for the fact that even though most studies report significant associations between low self-esteem and aggression, there are some substantial empirical studies reporting no direct link between low self-esteem and aggression and some even a significant relation between high self-esteem and aggression. Donnellan and colleagues (2015) addressed the discrepancy in the literature about the relation between low self-esteem and aggression. They suggested that experimental type of measurements of aggression used in some studies, are not comparable with real-life
episodes of aggression and therefore give contradicting results. They suggested that the reason why Baumeister and colleagues (1996) and Rhodewalt and colleagues (1997) did not find a significant effect for low self-esteem and aggression is that they used experimental manipulation to measure aggression rather than observing real-life aggressive reactions. They continued by saying that individuals with low self-esteem would not act aggressively in such an experimental setting because they are aware of the socially undesirableness of displaying aggression (Donnellan et al. 2005). Further research should look into the relation between self-esteem and aggression and how different types of measurements of aggression asses this association.
A possible explanation for the discrepancy in the relation between self-esteem and aggression can be that not until recently, narcissism and self-esteem was seen as different constructs. Early literature suggested that the personality trait narcissism could be seen as an intense and overblown high esteem. Narcissism was seen as the extent of high self-esteem. Brummelman, Thomaes and Sedikides (2016) explained however how these two constructs explicitly differ in phenotype, origins underlying factors and developmentally. They explain that even though narcissism and self-esteem may seem similar in regard to how they perceive themselves, this is actually quite different. Brummelman and colleagues (2016) further explain, that individuals with high self-esteem do have positive self-views and can be seen as content with one’s own capability’s and appearance, narcissists feel positive about themselves in comparison with others, however do not necessarily feel content with themselves.
Recent literature substantiates the idea that narcissism and self-esteem are two different constructs rather than an extent from one another (Barry, Thompson, Lochman, Adler & Hill, 2007; Campbell et al. 2002; Kirkpatrick, Waugh, Valencia, & Webster, 2002). The literature reporting a relation between high self-esteem and narcissism derives from more
mature literature (Baumeister et al., 1996; Rhodewalt, 1997), whereas the more recently conducted empirical literature mainly reported that low self-esteem was related to aggression (Donnellan et al., 2005; Teng et al., 2015). This might be due to the fact that the distinction between self-esteem and narcissism only recently has been established and that earlier research maintained different definitions high self-esteem and narcissism. Where previously high self-esteem might seem to be related to aggression, using more up to date classifications and definitions of the two constructs would show that it is not high self-esteem associated with aggression but rather narcissism. This would explain the lack of evidence supporting the relation between high self-esteem and aggression in more recent years.
The current literature review has some limitations that have to be mentioned. Most empirical research studies used in this literature review used self-reported questionnaires to determine the narcissism level and aggressive behavior. Unfortunately, self-reported
questionnaires are proven to be less reliable because they are supposed to be more vulnerable for social desirability aspects and deception (Hickerman, Watson & Morris, 1996). Future research could look to apply more reliable measurements such as psychologist assessments (Raskin & Howard, 1988) of narcissism or including parental assessments of the adolescent’s characteristics (Hickerman et al., 1996). Also, it should be mentioned that this literature review included a meta-analysis on the relation between self-esteem and aggressive behavior among Chinese students (Teng, Liu & Guo, 2015). Even though the results of a meta-analysis including a broad range of studies can be quite convincing, it should be noted that this meta-analysis included Chinese students only. A cross cultural meta-analysis of the construct self-esteem showed that Chinese children might not maintain give the same meaning to self-esteem as do western children (Wang & Ollendick, 2001). Therefore, these results should be interpreted with caution.
available on peer rejection and narcissism, and provides a better understanding of how the personality factors narcissism and self-esteem contribute to this. This current literature review provided more insight on the fact that high narcissism is related to aggression, and that
narcissists have an increased chance of displaying aggression when confronted with peer rejection. The current literature review also aimed to provide more clarity on the influence of self-esteem on aggression among adolescents, even though it seems to be that low self-esteem is related to aggression, this is still left to be further investigated to eliminate the
inconsistencies on this. However, this literature review provided an overview which future research can build on. Future research should focus on obtaining more knowledge about how the information that high narcissism and low self-esteem seem to predict aggressive behavior after experiencing peer rejection, could contribute to the prevention and treatment programs for aggressive adolescents.
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