The investigation of the mediating role of Perfectionism between Narcissism, and Social Avoidance

The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of Perfectionism between two types of Narcissism (Grandiose and Vulnerable) and Social Avoidance.

The study was cross-sectional and correlational. The sample consisted of 400 students who were selected by available and non-random method. Participants completed the Social Phobia Scale (Connor et al, 2000), the Brief version of Pathological Narcissism (Schoenleber et al, 2015) and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Hewitt and Flett, 1991). Data were analyzed through Structural Equation Models (SEM) method and by SMARTPLS software version 2.

Results showed that perfectionism has the mediating role between vulnerable narcissism and social avoidance. So that people with vulnerable narcissism with perfectionism characteristics also show more social avoidance.

In some cases, social avoidance may come with vulnerable narcissistic traits and understanding the narcissistic personality traits helps with treatment of the chronic symptoms of social avoidance.