Interpersonal consequences of narcissistic and borderline personality disorders

This study explored the interpersonal consequences of narcissistic and borderline personality disorders. One hundred forty-nine undergraduate males and females were instructed to watch one of four videotapes depicting male or female narcissists or borderlines. A modified version of the First Impressions Questionnaire (FIQ: Bryan, Coleman, Ganong, & Bryan, 1986) was used to measure participants' perceptions of each personality type. Results suggested that the interpersonal consequences of the borderline personality style are more negative than those associated with narcissism. The male and female exhibiting borderline personality disorder were perceived as more insecure, more unstable, more unpredictable, more aggressive, and less powerful than the male and female exhibiting narcissistic personality disorder. A sequential time analysis failed to produce negative carryover effects following presentation of personality disorders, suggesting that an initial neutral impression may override a subsequent negative impression of disordered personality when evaluated in a second neutral segment.