Surprise, men are more narcissistic than women

Men love themselves more than women do. That's the takeaway from a new study by researchers at the University of Buffalo that claims men are consistently more narcissistic than their female counterparts.

Scientists compiled psychological and personality test data from some 31 years of narcissism research, finding that men's scores consistently surpass women's in the art of self-obsession.

Researchers gleaned info from some 355 journal articles, surveys, dissertations and manuscripts, teasing out gender differences in narcissism. Authors of the new comprehensive survey divided the derived info into three categories, or three types of narcissism -- extreme self-interest as it relates to leadership and authority, to grandiosity and exhibitionism, and to entitlement.

The largest gender gap was found in the entitlement category, suggesting men have few qualms about exploiting others and helping themselves to the advantages of male privilege.

"Narcissism is associated with various interpersonal dysfunctions, including an inability to maintain healthy long-term relationships, unethical behavior and aggression," lead author Emily Grijalva, an assistant professor at Buffalo's School of Management, explained in a press release.

"At the same time, narcissism is shown to boost self-esteem, emotional stability and the tendency to emerge as a leader," Grijalva added. "By examining gender differences in narcissism, we may be able to explain gender disparities in these important outcomes."

Researchers point out that these differences in attitude and personality aren't proof that men are naturally predisposed to narcissism. It's likely that such gender gaps can be explained by gender stereotypes and societal expectations.

"Individuals tend to observe and learn gender roles from a young age, and may face backlash for deviating from society's expectations," Grijalva said. "In particular, women often receive harsh criticism for being aggressive or authoritative, which creates pressure for women, more so than for men, to suppress displays of narcissistic behavior."

The new research was published in the journal Psychological Bulletin.