Narcissism: are accounting students using their personality traits to perform better?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/rco.v11i31.137775Keywords:
Narcissism, Academic Performance., Accounting Education, Narcissistic personality inventoryAbstract
The purpose of this research was to identify if non-athological narcissistic personality traits in accounting students are related to their performance. Students who overestimate their performance, a characteristic present in narcissistic individuals, live in the unrealistic belief that they do better than others in different activities. Such tendency can be detrimental in the long term. In addition to resulting in a constant effort so that such expectations become reality. The data were collected from a sample of 106 Brazilian accounting students who responded to a survey that included the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). The results suggest that the higher the presence of narcissistic traits, the greater his/her self-perceived academic performance. At the same time, narcissism does not influence the student’s real performance, which suggest that narcissistic personality traits just influence expectations, reather than the learning process.
Downloads
References
Ackerman, R. A., Witt, E. A., Donnellan, M. B.; Trzesniewski, K. H.; Robins, R. W.; Kashy, D. A. (2011). What
Does the Narcissistic Personality Inventory Really Measure? Assessment, 18(1), pp. 67-87.
Aldin, M. M., Nayebzadeh, S., & Heirany, F. (2011). The Relationship between Background Variables and the
Educational Performance (Case Study: Accounting MA Students). International Proceedings of Economics
Development & Research, 13.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4 ed. Washington,
DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Araújo, E. A. T., de Camargos, M. A., Camargos, M. C. S., & Dias, A. T. (2014). Desempenho Acadêmico de
Discentes do Curso de Ciências Contábeis: Uma análise dos seus fatores determinantes em uma IES Privada.
Contabilidade Vista & Revista, 24(1), 60-83.
Ausubel, D. P. (1968). Educational psychology: a cognitive view. New York, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
Avelino, B. C., & Lima, G. A. S. F, (2017). Narcisismo e Desonestidade Acadêmica. Revista Universo Contábil,
13(3), 70.
Avelino, B. C., Lima, G. A. S. F., Cunha, J. V. A., Colauto, R. D. (2017). The Influence of Narcissism in the
Professional Environment: Aspects Related to Dishonesty. ASAA JOURNAL - Advances in Scientific and
Applied Accounting, 10(3), 334-356.
Baccaro, T. A. (2014). A relação entre o desempenho no vestibular e o rendimento acadêmico no ensino superior:
um estudo em uma universidade pública paulista. Tese (Doutorado em Administração de Organizações) -
Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo.
Brown, A. D. (1997). Narcissism, identity, and legitimacy. Academy of Management Review, 22(3), 643-686.
G. A. S. F. Lima; B. C. Avelino; J. V. A. Cunha / Rev. Cont Org 31 (2017) 71-76 71
Brown, R. P., Budzek, K. & Tamborski, M. (2009). On the meaning and measure of narcissism. Personality and
Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, pp. 951–964.
Brunell, A. B., Staats, S., Barden, J. & Hupp, J. M. (2011). Narcissism and academic dishonesty: The exhibitionism
dimension and the lack of guilt. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, pp. 323–328.
Bushman, B. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (1998). Threatened egotism, narcissism, self-esteem, and direct and displaced
aggression: Does self-love or self-hate lead to violence?. Journal of personality and social psychology, 75(1),
219.
Byrne, M., & Flood, B. (2008). Examining the relationships among background variables and academic performance
of first year accounting students at an Irish University. Journal of Accounting Education, 26(4), 202-212.
Caixeta, S. P. (2011). Sofrimento psíquico em estudantes universitários: um estudo exploratório. Dissertação
(Mestrado em Psicologia) - Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília.
Campbell, W. K., Bonacci, A. M., Shelton, J., Exline, J. J., & Bushman, B. J. (2004). Psychological entitlement:
Interpersonal consequences and validation of a self-report measure. Journal of personality assessment, 83(1),
29-45.
Campbell, W. K., Hoffman, B. J., Campbell, S. M., & Marchisio, G. (2011). Narcissism in organizational contexts.
Human Resource Management Review, 21(4), 268-284
Cornachione Jr., Cunha, J. V. A., De Luca, M. M. M., & Ott, E. (2010). O bom é meu, o ruim é seu: perspectivas da
teoria da atribuição sobre o desempenho acadêmico de alunos da graduação em Ciências Contábeis. Revista
Contabilidade & Finanças, 21(53), 1-23.
D’Souza, M. F. (2016). Manobras financeiras e o Dark Triad: o despertar do lado sombrio na gestão. Tese
(Doutorado em Controladoria e Contabilidade) - Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade da
Universidade de São Paulo (FEA/USP), São Paulo.
Davis, M. S.; Brunell, A. B. (2012). Measuring Narcissism within Add Health: The Development and Validation
of a New Scale. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 22(4), pp. 632–645.
Duckworth, A. L., & Seligman, M. E. (2006). Self-discipline gives girls the edge: Gender in self-discipline, grades,
and achievement test scores. Journal of educational psychology, 98(1), 198.
Dworkis, K. K. (2012). The Interactive Effects of Incentive Threshold and Narcissism on Managerial DecisionMaking. Dissertation, University of Southern California.
Farwell, L. & Wohlwend-Lloyd, R. (1998). Narcissistic processes: Optimistic expectations, favorable selfevaluations, and self-enhancing attributions. Journal of Personality, 66, pp. 65–83.
Ferreira, M. A., Santos, C. K. S., Miranda, G. J. & Leal, E. A. (2014). Desempenho Discente: O Passado Determina
o Futuro? In: EnANPAD, XXXVIII, 2014. Rio de Janeiro-RJ. Anais... Curitiba: ANPAD, 2014. CD-ROM.
Foster, J. D., Campbell, W. K., & Twenge, J. M. (2003). Individual differences in narcissism: Inflated self-views
across the lifespan and around the world. Journal of Research in Personality, 37(6), 469-486.
Gabriel, M. T.; Critelli, J. W.; Ee, J. S. (1994). Narcissistic illusions in self-evaluations of intelligence and
attractiveness. Journal of Personality, 62, pp. 143–155.
Glad, B. (2002). Why tyrants go too far: Malignant narcissism and absolute power. Political Psychology, 23(1),
1-2
Godkin, L.; Allcorn, S. (2009). Institutional Narcissism, Arrogant Organization Disorder and Interruptions in
Organizational Learning. The Learning Organization, 16(1), pp. 40-57.
Golmaryami, F. N.; Barry, C. T. (2010). The Associations of Self-Reported and Peer Reported Relational Aggression
with Narcissism and Self-Esteem among Adolescents in a Residential Setting. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol.,
39(1), pp. 128-33.
Green, A. (1988). Narcissism de Vida, Narcisimo de Morte. São Paulo: Editora Escuta.
Guimarães, D. B., & Arraes, R. A. (2010). Status Sócio-Econômico, Background Familiar, Formação Educacional
e as Chances de Sucesso dos Candidatos ao Vestibular da UFC. Revista Contemporânea de Economia e
Gestão, 8(2), 81-94.
G. A. S. F. Lima; B. C. Avelino; J. V. A. Cunha / Rev. Cont Org 31 (2017) 72-76 72
Gungor, I. H.; Eksi, H.; Aricak, O. T. (2012). Value Preferences Predicting Narcissistic Personality Traits in Young
Adults. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 12(2), pp. 1281-1290.
Hales, J.; Hobson, J. L.; Resutek, R. J. (2012). The Dark Side of Socially Mediated Rewards: How Narcissism and
Social Status Affect Managerial Reporting. Working paper, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Hudson, E. J. (2012). Understanding and Exploring Narcissism: Impact on Students and College Campuses. CMC
Senior Theses. Paper 381.
John, O. P., & Robins, R. W. (1994). Accuracy and bias in self-perception: individual differences in self-enhancement
and the role of narcissism. Journal of personality and social psychology, 66(1), 206.
Kalbers, L. P., & Weinstein, G. P. (1999). Student performance in introductory accounting: A multi-sample, multimodel analysis. The Accounting Educators’ Journal, 11.
Kassab, A. (2006). Alunos da escola pública têm melhor desempenho. Jornal da Unicamp. Available at:
www.unicamp.br/unicamp/unicamp_hoje/ju/junho2006/ju327pag03.html>. Consulted on: August 3, 2016.
Kernberg, O. (1975). Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. New York: Jason Aronson.
Kets de Vries, M. F. (1994). The leadership mystique. The Academy of Management Executive, 8(3), 73-89
Kohut, H. (1977). The restoration of the self. New York: International Universities Press.
Langaro, F. N., & Benetti, S. P. C. (2014). Subjetividade contemporânea: narcisismo e estados afetivos em um
grupo de adultos jovens. Psicologia Clínica, 26(2).
Lasch, C. (1983). A cultura do narcissism: a vida americana numa era de esperanças em declínio. Rio de Janeiro:
Imago.
Lopes, B. (2014). Estudantes de escola pública têm desempenho melhor na USP. Tô no Rumo. Available at:
<http://www.tonorumo.org.br/2014/10/estudantes-de-escola-publica-tem-desempenho-melhor-na-usp/>.
Consulted on: August 3, 2016.
Lopes, S. S., Cardoso, P. R., Reina, D., & Reina, D. R. M. (2016). Dark Triad: Análise Do Perfil De Personalidade
Em Estudantes Da Área Contábil. In: Congresso UnB de Contabilidade e Governança, 2, 2016. Brasília,
Anais... Brasília: UnB, 2016.
Maccoby, M. (2003), The Productive Narcissist: The Promise and Peril of Visionary Leadership. New York:
Broadway Books.
Magalhães, F. A. C. & Andrade, J. X. (2006). Exame vestibular, characteristics demográficas e desempenho na
universidade: em busca de fatores preditivos. In: Congresso USP de Controladoria e Contabilidade, 6., 2006,
São Paulo/SP. Anais... São Paulo: FEA-USP, 2006.
Mazlish, B. (1982). American Narcissism. The Psychohistory Review, 10(3-4), pp. 185-202.
Menezes Filho, N. A. (2006). Os determinantes do desempenho escolar do Brasil. São Paulo: Instituto Futuro
Brasil, IBMEC, FEA/USP, 2006.
Menon, M. K. & Sharland, A. (2011). Narcissism, Exploitative Attitudes, and Academic Dishonesty: An Exploratory
Investigation of Reality Versus Myth. Journal of Education for Business, 86, pp. 50–55.
Miller, J. D., & Campbell, W. K. (2008). Comparing Clinical and Social-Personality Conceptualizations of
Narcissism. Journal of Personality, 76(3), 449-476.
Miller, J. D., Campbell, W. K., Young, D. L., Lakey, C. E., Reidy, D. E., Zeichner, A., & Goodie, A. S. (2009).
Examining the relations among narcissism, impulsivity, and self-defeating behaviors. Journal of Personality,
77(3), 761-794.
Millon, T. (1981). Disorders of Personality. New York: Wiley.
Pauletti, R. E.; Menon, M.; Menon, M.; Tobin, D. D.; Perry, D. G. (2012). Narcissism and Adjustment in
Preadolescence. Child Development, 83(3), pp. 831-837.
Penney, S. R.; Moretti, M. M.; Silva, K. S. (2008). Structural Validity of the MACI Psychopathy and Narcissism
Scales: Evidence of Multidimensionality and Implications for Use in Research and Screening. J Clin Child
Adolesc Psychol., 37(2), pp. 422-433.
G. A. S. F. Lima; B. C. Avelino; J. V. A. Cunha / Rev. Cont Org 31 (2017) 73-76 73
Queiroz, D. M. (2003). Desigualdade no Ensino Superior: cor, status e desempenho. In: 26ª Reunião Anual da
Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Educação: Novo Governo. Novas Políticas, 5.
Raskin, R. N. & Hall, C. S. (1979). A narcissistic personality inventory. Psychological Reports, 45(2), pp. 590.
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(5), 890.
Rhodewalt, F., & Morf, C. C. (1995). Self and interpersonal correlates of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory: A
review and new findings. Journal of Research in Personality, 29(1), 1-23.
Robins, R. W., & Beer, J. S. (2001). Positive illusions about the self: Short-term benefits and long-term costs.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80(2), pp. 340- 352.
Rojas, A. (2007). La autoestima: nuestra fuerza secreta. Madrid: Espasa Calpe.
Romanek, J. L. (2009). The Relative Influence of Sensation Seeking and Normal Narcissism on Academic Cheating
in Emerging Adults. Ph.D. Dissertation, Northcentral University.
Severiano, M. F. V. (1999). As Subjetividades Contemporâneas sob o Signo do Consumo – os Ideais Narcísicos
na Publicidade da TV: Produção e Consumo. Tese (Doutorado em Educação) - Faculdade de Educação da
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo.
Taylor, J. (2005). Substance use disorders and cluster B personality disorders: Physiological, cognitive, and
environmental correlates in a college sample. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 31(3), pp.
515-535.
Trechera, J. L., Torre, G. M. V. & Morales, E. F. (2008). Estudio Empírico del Trastorno Narcisista de da
Personalidad (TNP). Acta Colombiana de Psicología, 11(2), pp. 25-36.
Trzesniewski, K. H., Donnellan, M. B., & Robins, R. W. (2008). Do today’s young people really think they are so
extraordinary? An examination of secular trends in narcissism and self-enhancement. Psychological Science,
19(2), 181-188.
Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2003). “Isn’t it fun to get the respect that we’re going to deserve?” Narcissism,
social rejection, and aggression. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29(2), 261-272.
University of São Paulo – USP (2016). Available at: <http://www5.usp.br/institucional/a-usp/>. Consulted on:
January 19, 2016.
Valadez, J.; Clignet, R.(1987). On the ambiguities of a Sociological Analysis of the Culture of Narcissism. The
Sociological Quarterly, 28(4), pp. 455-472.
Wallace, H. M. & Baumeister, R. F. (2002). The Performance of Narcissists Rises and Falls with Perceived
Opportunity for Glory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(5), p. 819-834.
Watson, J. M. (2012). Educating the Disagreeable Extravert: Narcissism, the Big Five Personality Traits, and
Achievement Goal Orientation. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 24(1),
pp. 76-88.
Weikel, K. A., Avara, R. M., Hanson, C. A., & Kater, H. (2010). College adjustment difficulties and the overt and
covert forms of narcissism. Journal of College Counseling, 13(2), 100-110.
Westerman, J. W.; Bergman, J. Z.; Bergman, S. M.; Daly, J. P. (2012). Are universities creating millennial
narcissistic employees? An empirical examination of narcissism in business students and its implications.
Journal of Management Education, 36(1), pp. 5-32.
Young, S. M., & Pinsky, D. (2006). Narcissism and celebrity. Journal of Research in Personality, 40(5), 463-471.
G. A. S. F. Lima; B. C. Avelino; J. V. A. Cunha / Rev. Cont Org 31 (2017) 74-76 74
Published
Issue
Section
License
The RCO adopts the Free Open Access policy, under the standard Creative Commons agreement (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The agreement provides that:
- Submission of text authorizes its publication and implies commitment that the same material is not being submitted to another journal. The original is considered definitive.
- Authors retain the copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which allows the sharing of the work with acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are authorized to take additional contracts separately, for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (e.g. publish in an institutional repository or as a book chapter), with necessary recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are allowed and encouraged to publish and distribute their work online (e.g. in institutional repositories or on their personal page) before or during the editorial process, as this can generate productive changes as well as increase the impact and citation of published work (See The Effect of Free Access).
- The journal does not pay copyright to the authors of the published texts.
- The journal's copyright holder, except those already agreed in the Free Open Access Agreement (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), is the Accounting Department of the Faculty of Economics, Administration and Accounting of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo.
No submission or publication fees are charged.
Up to 4 authors per article are accepted. Exceptionally duly justified cases may be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the RCO. Exceptional cases are considered as: multi-institutional projects; manuscripts resulting from the collaboration of research groups; or involving large teams for evidence collection, construction of primary data, and comparative experiments.
It is recommended that the authorship be ordered by contribution of each of the individuals listed as authors, especially in the design and planning of the research project, in obtaining or analyzing and interpreting data, and writing. Authors must declare the actual contributions of each author, filling the letter to the editor, at the beginning of the submission, taking responsibility for the information given.
Authors are allowed to change throughout the evaluation process and prior to the publication of the manuscript. The Authors should indicate the composition and final order of authorship in the document signed by all those involved when accepted for publication. If the composition and authoring order is different than previously reported in the system, all previously listed authors should be in agreement.
In the case of identification of authorship without merit or contribution (ghost, guest or gift authorship), the RCO follows the procedure recommended by COPE.




