THE ROLE OF TEMPERAMENT – CHARACTER DIMENSIONS AND BRAIN – BEHAVIORAL SYSTEMS IN PREDICTING NARCISSISTIC AND HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

The increased prevalence of Narcissistic personality and development of
psychobiological approaches in recent decades has led to a shift in prevention and treatment of this
disorder. So, current research is aimed at determining the role of temperament-character dimensions and
brain-behavioral systems in predicting narcissistic personality characteristics.
Materials & Methods: This correlational descriptive study used simple random sampling method and
included 368 female students of Urmia University dormitories in 2015. The study tools were Carver &
White Behavioral Activation System / Behavioral Inhibition System Scale, Temperament-Character
Inventory (TCI 125) and Ames Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI – 16). Statistical tests including
descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient and regression equation were applied to analyze data with
SPSS software version 22.
Results: There was a significant correlation between narcissistic and temperament, all four dimensions
(NS, HA, RD & P), two dimensions of Character (ST & CO) (p<0.01), and two subscales of BAS (RR,
FS &) (p<0.05). Regression of narcissistic personality characteristics would be predicted by 8 variables.
Conclusion: Narcissistic personality characteristics would be predicted by 6 variables of temperament
and character dimensions and two variables of brain-behavioral systems