You Can Spot A Narcissist From This Facial Feature, According To Study

blog

The post You Can Spot A Narcissist From This Facial Feature, According To Study appeared first on Healthy Holistic Living.

Are there any telltale signs of a narcissist beyond glaringly white teeth and an excessive number of selfies on their phone? Recent research suggests that the answer might be right above their eyes – in their eyebrows, to be precise.

A study by the University of Toronto, featured in the Journal of Personality, proposes that individuals with “distinguished eyebrows” are more likely to exhibit traits associated with narcissistic personality.

The term “narcissist” originates from the ancient Greek tale of Narcissus, a youth who fell hopelessly in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Generally, individuals with pronounced narcissistic traits rank high on the self-admiration scale. They frequently make positive initial impressions, appearing likable and charismatic, but also demonstrate self-centered and egotistical behavior, often coupled with an inflated sense of their own abilities or looks.

Here’s a list of common traits often associated with narcissism:

Excessive Self-Importance: Narcissists often have an inflated sense of their own importance. They believe they are superior and expect recognition as such, even without commensurate achievements.
Sense of Entitlement: Narcissists typically feel entitled to special treatment and unquestioning compliance with their expectations.
Exploitation of Others: Narcissists are often willing to take advantage of others to achieve their own ends. They may disregard the feelings and needs of others.
Lack of Empathy: Narcissists may struggle to identify with the feelings and needs of others. They might dismiss or disregard the feelings of others as irrelevant or unimportant.
Envy: Narcissists may either believe others are envious of them, or they themselves may be envious of others.
Arrogance: Narcissists often display haughty or arrogant behaviors or attitudes. They might come off as conceited, boastful, or pretentious.
Fantasies of Success and Power: Narcissists often fantasize about unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.

Interestingly, they seem to have remarkable eyebrows too.

Remember, having a few of these traits doesn’t necessarily mean someone is a narcissist. Narcissistic Personality Disorder, as diagnosed by professionals, is a severe and pervasive pattern that significantly impacts a person’s life, relationships, and functioning.

The research team reached this conclusion by photographing nearly 40 undergraduate students with neutral facial expressions. These students were then subjected to a psychological evaluation known as the Narcissistic Personality Inventory to measure the potency of any narcissistic characteristics. The researchers presented the photos to other participants, asking them to estimate the level of narcissism in each person based solely on their appearance.
Their preliminary findings revealed that participants effectively used eyebrows to gauge the students’ narcissistic tendencies. Specifically, eyebrow thickness and high hair density were the most reliable indicators of narcissism..

To further investigate, researchers observed how perceptions of narcissism altered when swapping eyebrows between narcissistic and non-narcissistic faces. They found that faces of narcissists were rated as less narcissistic when adorned with non-narcissists’ eyebrows and vice versa.

They inferred that this demonstrates “distinctive eyebrows disclose narcissists’ personality to others,” and significantly influence whether you are perceived as narcissistic.

But why might this be? While the researchers did not investigate a specific mechanism, they suggested that eyebrows play a crucial role in social interactions and nonverbal communication, making us particularly attuned to them. Additionally, eyebrows can serve as a reflection of a person’s broader appearance and identity.

Given their desire for admiration, narcissists tend to uphold high grooming standards. “Individuals reporting high levels of narcissism tend to wear more fashionable, stylish, and expensive clothing; have a neater, more organized appearance; and look more attractive,” note the authors of the study.

Eyebrows are also significant for facial recognition and mate selection (in both females and males), and a pair of meticulously groomed eyebrows may indicate that the owner is well aware of this.

In sum, while our eyebrows might be an unexpected indicator of narcissistic traits, it’s important to remember that personality is multifaceted and cannot be accurately judged by physical features alone. It’s always prudent to seek a comprehensive understanding of individuals, considering both their characteristics and behaviors. If you find yourself dealing with someone displaying the aforementioned narcissistic traits, consider setting firm boundaries and seeking professional advice if necessary. After all, our interpersonal relationships significantly influence our overall wellbeing and it’s essential to nurture healthy connections.

The post You Can Spot A Narcissist From This Facial Feature, According To Study appeared first on Healthy Holistic Living.

|Share Tweet