How to Measure Narcissism Cross-culturally? NPI-15 as a New Proposal in Assessment of Grandiose Narcissism

Based on data collected by the Cross-Cultural Self-Enhancement project in over 50 countries, we analyzed psychometric properties of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory constituted by two abbreviated versions of NPI-13 and NPI-16. A factor analysis yielded a 15-item 5-factor solution (i.e., Manipulativeness, Exhibitionism, Leadership, Vanity, Superiority), which then was used for MGCFA analyses. Further, we examined the scale’s reliability, external validity (correlations with self-esteem, psychological entitlement, and Big Five), and cross-level isomorphism. The scale was psychometrically sound, showing good internal reliability and a similar nomological network across cultures. Combined into total narcissism score, this scale is a valid measure of global grandiose narcissism cross-culturally. Therefore NPI-15 is a promising method of assessing global grandiose narcissism across countries.

Key words: narcissism, measurement invariance, cross-cultural studies