Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2026
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Beth Boyd
Abstract
Narcissistic personality disorder, as currently described within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), emphasizes grandiose narcissistic traits, such as a need for admiration and an inflated sense of self-importance. However, the current conceptualization of narcissistic personality disorder within the DSM-5-TR does not explicitly include vulnerable narcissistic traits. Vulnerable narcissistic traits may also be mistaken for depressive symptoms due to similarities in their presentation. The present study used a mixed-methods approach to examine linguistic differences among these constructs and explore whether patterns in language could help disentangle their overlap. Quantitative analyses examined differences in linguistic features, including first and third-person pronoun use, while qualitative analysis examined themes present in participants’ written responses to feedback. No significant differences were found between vulnerable narcissistic traits and third-person pronoun use. However, qualitative analysis identified three prominent themes in participants’ responses: emotional responses to feedback, perceptions of feedback as criticism, and the relationship between feedback and identity or self-worth. These findings suggest that although specific linguistic features may not reliably distinguish vulnerable narcissistic traits from depressive symptoms, the thematic content of responses to feedback may provide additional insight into how vulnerable narcissistic traits are expressed. This approach may contribute to a better understanding of the distinction between vulnerable narcissistic traits and depressive symptoms and may potentially inform clinical assessment and future treatment planning.
Subject Categories
Clinical Psychology | Psychology
Keywords
None Provided
Number of Pages
90
Publisher
University of South Dakota
Recommended Citation
McGinnis, Bradly, "THE LANGUAGE OF VULNERABLE NARCISSISM: LINGUISTIC AND THEMATIC PATTERNS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS" (2026). Dissertations and Theses. 444.
https://red.library.usd.edu/diss-thesis/444