Sexual Narcissism Scale

Abstract

The Sexual Narcissism Scale (SNS), developed by Laura Widman and James K. McNulty, is a 20-item psychometric instrument designed to measure the specific manifestation of self-centered, narcissistic personality traits within sexual situations. Recognizing that global assessments, such as the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), may lack precision in predicting domain-specific sexual behaviors, the SNS provides a focused tool for researchers.

The scale utilizes a 5-point Likert scale response format and is structured around four primary subscales: Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Entitlement, Low Sexual Empathy, and Sexual Skill. The SNS has demonstrated strong predictive validity, particularly in its robust associations with various forms of sexual aggression.

Keywords

Sexual Narcissism Scale, SNS, Narcissism, Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Entitlement, Low Sexual Empathy, Sexual Skill, Sexual Aggression, Personality Assessment.

Authors

Laura Widman, James K. McNulty.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Sexual Narcissism Scale (SNS) is to provide a domain-specific measure that accurately captures the facets of narcissism as they relate specifically to sexual attitudes and behaviors. Traditional, global measures of narcissism often prove imprecise in predicting sexual outcomes due to the situation-specific nature of personality, necessitating a focused instrument for behavioral research.

By focusing exclusively on the sexual domain, the SNS allows researchers to establish more consistent and robust links between narcissistic traits and various sexual outcomes, particularly those involving partner manipulation, coercion, and overall sexual aggression. This specificity enhances its utility in clinical and academic settings dedicated to studying problematic sexual behaviors.

Construct

The SNS measures the construct of Sexual Narcissism, which is defined as a personality style characterized by self-aggrandizing beliefs, grandiosity, and exploitative tendencies specifically manifested in sexual interactions. This construct moves beyond general personality traits to pinpoint how a lack of empathy and an excessive need for admiration drive sexual behavior.

The construct is operationalized through four distinct, yet interrelated, subscales, each measured by five items:

• Sexual Exploitation: Assesses the ability and willingness to manipulate, deceive, or coerce a person to gain sexual access.

• Sexual Entitlement: Measures a strong sense of sexual entitlement, reflecting the belief that the fulfillment of one’s sexual desires is a personal right, often leading to irritation if denied.

• Low Sexual Empathy: Reflects a generalized lack of empathy toward and devaluation of sexual partners, suggesting a disregard for their feelings during and after sexual activity.

• Sexual Skill: Captures a tendency to hold a grandiose or exaggerated sense of one’s sexual prowess, success, and ability as a partner.

Validity

The SNS has demonstrated strong evidence for convergent, divergent, and predictive validity across multiple independent samples. Regarding Convergent Validity, studies have shown a strong positive correlation with the Index of Sexual Narcissism (ISN; r = .72, p < .001) and a moderate positive correlation with the global Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI; r = .41, p < .001) in samples of college men. These results confirm that the SNS measures a construct related to general narcissism but captures unique variance specific to the sexual domain.

Evidence for Divergent Validity comes from its null or weak relationships with the Big Five personality traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Openness). This suggests that sexual narcissism is not merely a redundant reflection of broader personality factors but can emerge as a distinct trait independent of these established domains.

The SNS exhibits robust Predictive Validity, particularly concerning harmful sexual behaviors. Higher SNS scores in college men have been linked to an earlier age of first intercourse, a higher number of sex partners, increased acceptance of rape myths, more hostility toward women, and more adversarial sexual beliefs. Crucially, the SNS strongly predicts both past and future instances of sexual aggression (including unwanted sexual contact and sexual coercion), demonstrating associations that are significantly more robust than those found using the global NPI or the existing ISN.

Reliability

The Sexual Narcissism Scale has demonstrated adequate internal consistency across two independent samples of college students. The internal consistency, measured using Cronbach’s alpha, for the full scale ranged from .81 to .86, indicating high reliability for the total composite score.

Reliability was also confirmed at the subscale level, with adequate internal consistency reported for all four components, ensuring that each measures its intended facet consistently:

• Sexual Exploitation: α = .72–.78

• Sexual Entitlement: α = .76–.84

• Low Sexual Empathy: α = .70–.79

• Sexual Skill: α = .80–.89

Factor Analysis

The structural validity of the SNS was rigorously tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in a sample of 299 college students, encompassing both male and female participants, and both virgin and nonvirgin status individuals. The CFA provided strong evidence supportive of the hypothesized four-factor model, corresponding precisely to the four subscales described (Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Entitlement, Low Sexual Empathy, and Sexual Skill).

Adequate model fit was observed for the entire sample (N = 299), with favorable fit indices reported (e.g., χ²/df ratio = 2.64, CFI = .95, RMSEA = .077). Furthermore, the four-factor structure maintained adequate fit when analyzed individually across key subsamples (men, women, virgins, and nonvirgins), confirming the stability and generalizability of the measurement structure across various demographic groups within the target population.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychometric scale.

Format: 20 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). Two items within the Low Sexual Empathy subscale are reverse-scored to control for response sets.

Language Available: English (Original research language).

Population Group: Non-clinical population focused on sexual behavior and attitudes.

Age Group: Young Adults (College Students).

Population Details: Validation studies primarily utilized samples of male and female college students, indicating the measure is suitable for this demographic.

Test Methodology: The SNS can be administered using either paper-and-pencil or computerized response formats. Respondents are instructed to rate the items based on their current attitudes or beliefs. Completion time is rapid, generally taking less than 5 minutes.

Keywords

Psychometrics, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Internal Consistency, Sexual Coercion, Entitlement, Exploitation, Grandiosity.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected] (Laura Widman).

Correspondence Address: Laura Widman, Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed by Laura Widman and James K. McNulty, with key validation research published or “in press” around 2009. The correspondence address is provided for the lead author for researchers seeking further information or permissions. Specific information regarding licensing fees or formal commercial usage permissions is not detailed in the provided source material.

Reference’s

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: Author.

2. Baumeister, R. F., Catanese, K. R., & Wallace, H. M. (2002). Conquest by force: A narcissistic reactance theory of rape and sexual coercion. Review of General Psychology, 6, 92–135.

3. Buss, D. M., & Shackelford, T. K. (1997). Susceptibility to infidelity in the first year of marriage. Journal of Research in Personality, 31, 193–221.

4. Hurlbert, D. F., Apt, C., Gasar, S., Wilson, N. E., & Murphy, Y. (1994). Sexual narcissism: A validation study. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 20, 24–34.

5. Mischel, W., & Shoda, Y. (1995). A cognitive-affective system theory of personality: Reconceptualizing situations, dispositions, dynamics, and invariance in personality structure. Psychological Review, 102, 246–268.

6. Raskin, R. & Terry, H. (1988). A principal-components analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and further evidence of its construct validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 890–902.

7. Widman, L., & McNulty, J. K. (2008, August). Sexual narcissism and the confluence model of sexual aggression. Presentation at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

8. Widman, L., & McNulty, J. K. (2009). “If I ruled the world . . . I would have sex with anyone I choose.” Sexual narcissism and sexual aggression. Unpublished manuscript.

9. Widman, L., & McNulty, J. K. (in press). Sexual narcissism and the perpetration of sexual aggression. Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Items of the Sexual Narcissism Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

• If I ruled the world for one day, I would have sex with anyone I choose. Exp

• One way to get a person in bed with me is to tell them what they want to hear. Exp

• When I want to have sex, I will do whatever it takes. Exp

• I could easily convince an unwilling person to have sex with me. Exp

• I would be willing to trick a person to get them to have sex with me. Exp

• I feel I deserve sexual activity when I am in the mood for it. Ent

• I am entitled to sex on a regular basis. Ent

• I should be permitted to have sex whenever I want it. Ent

• I would be irritated if a dating partner said no to sex. Ent

• I expect sexual activity if I go out with someone on an expensive date. Ent

• When I sleep with someone, I rarely know what they are thinking or feeling. Emp

• It is important for me to know what my sexual partner is feeling when we make love.a Emp

• I enjoy sex more when I feel I really know a person.a Emp

• The feelings of my sexual partners don’t usually concern me. Emp

• I do not usually care how my sexual partner feels after sex. Emp

• I am an exceptional sexual partner. Skill

• My sexual partners think I am fantastic in bed. Skill

• I really know how to please a partner sexually. Skill

• I have been very successful in my sexual relationships. Skill

• Others have told me I am very sexually skilled. Skill

Note: Exp = Sexual Exploitation, Ent = Sexual Entitlement, Emp = Low Sexual Empathy, Skill = Sexual Skill. Items marked ‘a’ are reverse-scored.