Are Men Or Women More Narcissistic? | What The Data Says

Yes, men tend to score higher on narcissistic traits overall, especially on entitlement and authority compared with women.

Narcissism gets thrown around in everyday talk, but research treats it as a cluster of traits such as grandiosity, entitlement, need for admiration, and low empathy. When people ask whether men or women are more narcissistic, they’re really asking how these traits show up across large groups, not whether one gender is “good” and the other “bad.”

Across decades of studies, men generally report higher levels of narcissistic traits than women. That pattern shows up in personality surveys, clinical diagnoses, and lab experiments across many countries. At the same time, the gap is not a huge gulf, and it varies by type of narcissism, culture, and age. This article walks through what large studies show, why the gap exists, and what it means in everyday life.

Are Men Or Women More Narcissistic? What Large Studies Show

A landmark meta-analysis led by Emily Grijalva pooled data from more than 475,000 people and found that men scored higher on overall narcissism in every age group and across decades of research. The largest gaps appeared in entitlement and authority, parts of narcissism linked to taking up space, claiming status, and expecting special treatment. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Clinical data point in the same direction. In population surveys and treatment samples, diagnoses of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) tend to skew male. Analyses of large U.S. data sets suggest that roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of diagnosed NPD cases are men. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Still, the gap is modest. Many women show high narcissistic traits, and many men score low. The difference appears as a shift in the average, not a hard line between two groups.

How Researchers Define Narcissism

Before comparing men and women, it helps to know what researchers mean by narcissism. In everyday life, it can describe anyone who seems self-absorbed. In clinical manuals, narcissistic personality disorder is defined as a long-standing pattern that includes grandiosity, constant need for admiration, and lack of empathy, alongside other traits. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Researchers also measure “trait narcissism” in the general population, where people endorse statements such as “I like to be the center of attention” or “I deserve special treatment.” This approach lets scientists compare average scores across genders, age groups, and cultures without limiting the question to diagnosed disorders.

Most modern work divides narcissism into two broad forms:

• Grandiose narcissism – bold, dominant, attention-seeking, often confident on the surface.
• Vulnerable narcissism – sensitive to criticism, prone to shame, defensive, and often resentful when feeling overlooked.

Men tend to score higher on the grandiose side, while gender gaps are smaller or even reversed for some vulnerable traits. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Grandiose Narcissism: Where Men Tend To Score Higher

Grandiose narcissism overlaps with classic stereotypes: the person who craves admiration, dominates conversations, and expects special rules. On trait measures, men usually score higher on:

• Leadership/authority – desire to be in charge and direct others.
• Entitlement – belief that one deserves more than others.
• Exhibitionism – comfort with showing off and drawing attention.

The Grijalva meta-analysis found that leadership/authority and entitlement showed the clearest gender gaps, with men consistently higher across samples spanning more than 30 years. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Some researchers link this pattern to social norms that reward men for assertiveness and status-seeking far more than women. Boys may receive more reinforcement for bragging, taking charge, or pushing boundaries, while girls are steered toward modesty or caretaking roles. Over time, those small nudges can widen the average difference in grandiose traits.

Vulnerable Narcissism: Where The Gender Gap Shrinks

Vulnerable narcissism looks very different on the surface. People high on this side may appear shy or insecure, but still carry strong beliefs that they are special and misunderstood. They can swing between self-doubt and resentment, and they often react strongly when they feel slighted.

When studies measure this pattern separately, men and women often show similar scores, and sometimes women rate slightly higher on items linked to sensitivity and shame. One analysis found almost no average difference between men and women on vulnerable narcissism, even when grandiose traits differed. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

This matters because real people can show blends of both forms. A woman who rarely boasts or grabs the spotlight might still carry deep entitlement, envy, or a sense of specialness that surfaces only in close relationships. That kind of pattern can be missed if observers only look for loud, showy behavior.

Table 1: How Narcissistic Traits Tend To Differ By Gender

The table below summarizes broad trends from large-scale surveys and clinical reviews. These describe group averages, not rules for any one person.

Trait Or Pattern	Trend For Men (On Average)	Trend For Women (On Average)
Overall Grandiose Narcissism	Higher scores across many samples	Lower, but overlapping with men
Leadership/Authority	More willing to claim leadership roles	Less likely to endorse strong authority items
Entitlement	Stronger sense of deserving special treatment	Moderate sense of entitlement
Exhibitionism	More comfortable with open displays and bragging	More mixed; higher in some social settings only
Vulnerable Narcissism	Similar or slightly lower in many samples	Similar or slightly higher on shame and sensitivity
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Diagnosis	More likely to receive NPD label	Less likely to be diagnosed, even with high traits
Change Across Adulthood	Traits tend to soften with age	Similar downward shift with age

Why Men Often Look More Narcissistic In Public Life

When people picture a “narcissist,” they often picture a high-status man: a flashy executive, a showy influencer, or a domineering partner. That image lines up with the data on grandiose traits, but there are also practical reasons men show up more often in these roles.

First, men still hold a larger share of top positions in business, politics, and entertainment. Those positions offer more chances to display entitlement and grandiosity in front of large audiences. Part of the “men are more narcissistic” question reflects where people look for examples.

Second, the social penalties for narcissistic behavior differ. A domineering man may be seen as assertive or ambitious, while a woman with the same traits may be labeled aggressive or unlikeable. That difference can discourage women from openly displaying grandiose traits, even when they feel just as self-focused inside.

Third, some assessment tools were built around patterns more common in men. Research on gender bias in NPD diagnosis points out that criteria emphasizing open aggression and overt dominance may under-detect quieter, more relational styles of narcissism that women might show more often. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

How Clinicians Diagnose Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder sits at the far end of the narcissism spectrum. Manuals describe it as a long-term pattern that shapes many areas of life, not just a few traits on a test. People with NPD usually show a mix of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, along with fragile self-esteem under the surface. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

To diagnose NPD, trained professionals look for patterns such as:

• An exaggerated sense of importance.
• Preoccupation with success, beauty, or status.
• Belief that one is special and should mix only with certain people.
• Need for constant admiration.
• Sense of entitlement.
• Tendency to exploit others.
• Low empathy.
• Frequent envy or belief that others envy them.
• Arrogant or haughty behavior.

Large surveys suggest that NPD affects a small share of the population, usually under 6%, with higher rates in men. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Table 2: Research Highlights On Gender And Narcissism

The next table condenses several well-cited findings on gender differences in narcissistic traits and NPD into plain language.

Study Or Source	Main Finding On Gender	What It Adds
Grijalva Meta-Analysis	Men higher on grandiose narcissism across decades	Shows stable average gap over time
University At Buffalo Summary	Men more narcissistic across generations and ages	Translates meta-analysis for general readers
NESARC NPD Survey	NPD more common in men in a large U.S. sample	Links traits to formal diagnoses
Gender Bias In NPD Diagnosis	Assessment tools may miss some female patterns	Warns against relying only on grandiose signs
Cleveland Clinic Overview	Estimates that most diagnosed NPD cases are male	Clinical voice on prevalence and treatment
Age And Narcissism Studies	Narcissistic traits tend to decline with age for both genders	Shows change rather than fixed traits
Grandiose Vs. Vulnerable Reviews	Men show more grandiose traits; vulnerable traits more balanced	Clarifies why “who’s worse” is too simple

How Age, Culture, And Context Shape Narcissism

Gender is only one piece of the narcissism picture. Studies following people across years suggest that narcissistic traits usually soften with age. Young adults tend to score higher on entitlement and status-seeking than middle-aged or older adults, regardless of gender. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Cultural norms also shape how narcissism looks. Societies that prize individual achievement and self-promotion make grandiose traits more visible and sometimes more rewarded. In more group-oriented settings, narcissism might lean toward subtle competition, covert entitlement, or quiet resentment. Those styles can be harder to spot in surveys built around loud, bold behavior.

Context matters too. The same person might appear modest at work and self-absorbed at home, or vice versa. Gender expectations can flip by setting: women may feel freer to show off in a close friend group than in a mixed-gender boardroom, while some men tone down grandiose traits in romantic relationships to avoid conflict.

What This Means For Relationships And Daily Life

Knowing that men tend to score higher on grandiose narcissism can help explain patterns people notice in dating, workplaces, and family life. For instance, men with very high scores may push harder for status, take more credit, or react badly to criticism. In leadership roles, those traits can bring both short-term gains and long-term problems, such as high turnover or burnout among colleagues.

Women with strong narcissistic traits might express them differently. Some may lean on appearance-related status, social media validation, or subtle relational control instead of open bragging. Others may move toward vulnerable patterns such as cold withdrawal, silent treatment, or quiet envy. These forms still carry costs for partners, friends, and coworkers, even if they draw less attention from outsiders.

In close relationships, the specific traits matter more than gender averages. People who combine entitlement with low empathy can leave others feeling unsafe, unheard, or constantly on guard, regardless of whether they are men or women. Boundaries, clear communication, and, when needed, professional help can all be part of protecting one’s well-being when dealing with entrenched narcissistic patterns.

How To Read Headlines About Narcissism And Gender

Headlines that ask “Are men or women more narcissistic?” invite simple answers, but the underlying research is more nuanced. Yes, men tend to score higher on grandiose traits and are more likely to receive an NPD diagnosis. At the same time, women can show equally damaging patterns, especially in vulnerable or covert forms that standard measures may have missed in the past.

When you see a bold claim about gender and narcissism, it helps to ask:

• Is this about diagnosed NPD or everyday traits?
• Does it separate grandiose and vulnerable forms?
• Which samples were studied (age, country, setting)?
• Do the authors discuss how traits may be under-detected in one gender?

Careful reading keeps the focus on real behavior rather than stereotypes. In practice, the most useful question is less “Which gender is worse?” and more “How do these traits show up in this specific person, and what does that mean for the people around them?”