Abstract:
This study examined the influence of narcissism and intimacy on willingness to sacrifice and relationship satisfaction. Four hundred and seventy-three participants completed measures of narcissism, intimacy, willingness to sacrifice, and relationship satisfaction. They were classified as high and low narcissists and having high and low intimacy with their partners. Then they were divided into four conditions: high narcissists with high intimacy, high narcissists with low intimacy, low narcissists with high intimacy, and low narcissists with low intimacy. Participants scores from these four conditions were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Results show that: 1. Low narcissists who have high intimacy with their partners are more willing to sacrifice than those who have low intimacy (p<.05). This effect of intimacy is not found in high narcissists. There is no difference in willingness to sacrifice between high narcissists who have high and low intimacy with their partners. 2. There is no significant difference in willingness to sacrifice between high and low narcissists. 3. Low narcissists who have high intimacy with their partners report more relationship satisfaction than those who have low intimacy (p < .001). This same pattern of results occurs with high narcissists (p < .001). 4. There is no significant difference in relationship satisfaction between high and low narcissists.