Narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders are complex psychological conditions characterized by enduring and maladaptive patterns of thinking, emotions, and behavior, with substantial biological differences. Alterations in N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamate (Glu) may be associated with the neurobiological underpinnings of Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Disorders. These neurometabolites play crucial roles in emotional regulation and impulse control. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolic differences between individuals with these two personality disorders and healthy controls. In a cross-sectional study, 180 participants, including 60 with narcissistic personality disorder, 60 with antisocial personality disorder, and 60 healthy controls, underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to measure and compare the concentrations of the neurometabolites NAA, GABA, and Glu in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Our results indicated significant group differences in the GABA/Cr and Glu/Cr ratios in the OFC region and in the NAA/Cr and GABA/Cr ratios in the ACC (p < .001). Specifically, GABA levels were reduced in both personality disorders compared to the control group, whereas glutamate levels were increased. The present study demonstrates that reduction of GABA and the increase of Glu in the OFC, along with the decrease of NAA and GABA in the ACC, may result in neuronal functioning impairment in patients with narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders, in comparison with the control group. This may contribute to a better understanding of these disorders and improve diagnosis and treatment efficacy.
Cyberbullying during adolescence is a growing concern and is exacerbated by the widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This study explores the relationship between cyberbullying aggression, personality traits, and psychological maturity in a sample of Spanish adolescents from the city of Tarragona, Spain (N = 276, age range = 14–18 years, M = 16.2 years). Our sample consisted of 43% male, 56% female, and 1.1% non-binary students. Participants completed the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIP-Q), the Overall Personality Assessment Scale (OPERAS), and the Psychological Maturity Assessment Scale (PSYMAS). Descriptive analyses, correlational tests, independent-samples t tests, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that boys scored significantly higher than girls in cyberbullying aggression (one-tailed), and also showed higher emotional stability, whereas girls scored higher in openness to experience. In the final regression model, higher extraversion, lower agreeableness, and lower work orientation significantly predicted cyberbullying aggression, while autonomy exhibited an insignificant effect. None of the gender interaction terms were significant, indicating that these associations did not differ between boys and girls. Overall, the findings highlight the central role of sociability, empathy, and responsibility in explaining adolescents’ involvement in cyberbullying. From an applied perspective, interventions aimed at fostering empathy, perspective-taking, self-regulation, and impulse control, particularly in highly extraverted adolescents, may help reduce aggressive online behaviours.
Cilj istraživanja bio je da ispita odnos između grandioznog i vulnerabilnog narcizma i motivacije za slavom kod adolescenata. Uzorak je obuhvatio 232 učenika iz tri srednje škole u Beogradu (52,6% muškog pola; prosečna starost 16,07 godina). Grandiozni i vulnerabilni narcizam mereni su srpskom adaptacijom Inventara patološkog narcizma (PNI), dok je motivacija za slavom ispitana prilagođenom srpskom verzijom skale motivacije za slavu. Korelacione analize pokazale su da su oba oblika narcizma pozitivno povezana sa motivacijom za slavom i njenim subdimenzijama. Multipla regresiona analiza pokazala je da je grandiozni narcizam jači prediktor ukupne motivacije za slavom, subdimenzije grandiozne fantazije, eksploatacija i uslovno samopoštovanje pozitivno je doprinosilo predikciji, dok je samoomalovažavanje doprinosilo negativno. Naši rezultati sugerišu da motivacija za slavom uključuje i grandiozne i vulnerabilne komponente narcizma i odražava psihološke procese povezane sa samopoštovanjem, emocionalnom regulacijom i težnjom za statusnom afirmacijom. Visoka međusobna povezanost dimenzija patološkog narcizma pruža empirijsku podršku savremenim teorijskim modelima koji ističu njihovu međuzavisnost i zajedničke psihološke osnove. Dobijeni nalazi predstavljaju osnovu za kreiranje preventivnih i savetodavnih intervencija usmerenih ka razvoju stabilnog identiteta i smanjenju oslonca na spoljašnje priznanje kod mladih, naročito u savremenom digitalnom kontekstu. Istaknuta su metodološka ograničenja i predloženi pravci budućih istraživanja.
With the development of models that view impulsivity as a multidimensional trait, the question arises as to whether qualitatively distinct profiles (types) of impulsivity can be identified that differ in their relationships with specific outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify and validate profiles of impulsivity based on the multidimensional Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS–P). The sample included 1299 participants (49.3% men) from the Serbian general population. Dickman Impulsivity Inventory and the Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire were used for profile validation. The latent profile analysis identified five profiles, of which three were interpreted as qualitatively different: sensation seeking, urgency, and lack of premeditation and perseverance, while the remaining two profiles were characterized by quantitative differences in impulsivity (i.e., low and moderate impulsivity profiles). The sensation seeking profile was associated with the most adaptive characteristics – high functional impulsivity and low dysfunctional impulsivity and aggression. The urgency profile showed the least adaptive characteristics, including high functional and dysfunctional impulsivity and aggression. Identification of the qualitatively different profiles supports the use of a typological paradigm to describe impulsivity. At the same time, the results indicate the need to differentiate sensation seeking from other dimensions of impulsivity, especially urgency.
Uspešno starenje predstavlja multidimenzionalni fenomen koji je potekao iz biomedicinskog pristupa u okviru koga se, kao najrelevaniji indikatori, ističu visoko fizičko, psihičko i socijalno funkcionisanje u starosti. U okviru psihosocijalne paradigme insistira se na subjektivnom psihološkom iskustvu i ličnim psihološkim resursima kao dominantnim odrednicama uspešnog starenja. Osnovni cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se identifikuju latentni profili starijih osoba, u odnosu na domen fizičkog, socijalnog i kognitivnog funkcionisanja, subjektivnog blagostanja i psihološke adaptacije. Drugo istraživačko pitanje odnosilo se na ispitivanje doprinosa pojedinačnih indikatora razlikovanju dobijenih profila. Uzorak su činile 293 starije osobe prosečne starosti 75 godina. Analizom latentnih profila (LPA) izdvojena su dva profila. Profil uspešnog starenja obuhvatao je ispitanike sa visokim vrednostima na pokazateljima zadovoljstva životom, pozitivnog afekta, subjektivnog zdravlja, socijalne mreže i povezanosti, postojanja smisla života i rezilijentnosti, te niskim vrednostima negativnog afekta, depresivnosti, zdravstvenih problema i ograničenja u aktivnostima. Drugi profil, profil izazovnog starenja, pokazivao je suprotne karakteristike na većini mera. Najveći doprinos u predikciji profila uspešnog starenja ostvaruju indikatori iz domena subjektivnog blagostanja i psihološke adaptacije: zadovoljstvo životom, postojanje smisla života i rezilijentnost u pozitivnom smeru, a negativni afekat i depresivnost u negativnom smeru. Rezultati idu u prilog savremenih psihosocijalnih modela koji naglašavaju psihološke resurse kao ključni mehanizam uspešnog starenja, posmatrajući ga kao dinamičan proces adaptacije na neizbežne promene i gubitke povezane sa starošću.
