Abstract

Grandiosity refers to an unrealistic sense of superiority—a sustained view of oneself as better than others that causes the narcissist to view others with disdain or as inferior—as well as to a sense of uniqueness: the belief that few others have anything in common with oneself and that one can only be understood by a few or very special people. It also occurs in reactive attachment disorder.

Grandiosity is chiefly associated with narcissistic personality disorder, but also commonly features in manic or hypomanic episodes of bipolar disorder.

In narcissism

Pathological grandiosity has been associated with one of the two subtypes of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. (Gabbard, 1989) Characteristics of the narcissist-grandiose subtype (as opposed to the narcissist-vulnerable subtype) include:

- Being labeled the “oblivious narcissists”

- Observed lack of insight into the impact they have on others

- More likely to regulate self-esteem through overt self-enhancement

- Denial of weaknesses

- Inflated demands of entitlement

- Consistent anger in unmet expectations

- Devaluation of people that threaten self-esteem

- Diminished awareness of the dissonance between their expectations and reality, along with the impact this has on relationships

- Overt presentation of grandiose fantasies

- Conflict within the environment is generally experienced as external to these individuals and not a measure of their own unrealistic expectations

The differences between grandiose and vulnerable narcissist subtypes have been studied (Dickinson & Pincus, 2003):

The grandiosity section of the Diagnostic Interview for Narcissism (DIN) (Second edition) is as follows:

1. The person exaggerates talents, capacity and achievements in an unrealistic way.

2. The person believes in his/her invulnerability or does not recognize his/her limitations.

3. The person has grandiose fantasies.

4. The person believes that he/she does not need other people.

5. The person overexamines and downgrades other people, projects, statements, or dreams in an unrealistic manner.

In mania

In mania grandiosity is typically more pro-active and aggressive than in narcissism. The manic character may boast of future achievements or exaggerate their personal qualities.

They may also begin unrealistically ambitious undertakings, before being cut down, or cutting themselves back down, to size.

In psychopathy

Grandiosity features in Factor 1 Facet 1:Interpersonal in the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) test.

Reality-testing

A distinction is made between individuals exhibiting grandiosity, which includes a degree of insight into their unrealistic thoughts (they are aware that their behavior is considered unusual), in contrast to those experiencing grandiose delusions, who lack this capability for reality-testing. Some individuals may transition between these two states, with grandiose ideas initially developing as "daydreams" that the patient recognises as untrue, but which can subsequently turn into full delusions that the patient becomes convinced reflect reality.

Psychoanalysis and the grandiose self

Otto Kernberg saw the unhealthily grandiose self as merging childhood feelings of specialness, personal ideals, and fantasies of an ideal parent.

Heinz Kohut saw the grandiose self as a normal part of the developmental process, only pathological when the grand and humble parts of the self became decisively divided. Kohut's recommendations for dealing with the patient with a disordered grandiose self were to tolerate and so re-integrate the grandiosity with the realistic self.