Narcissism, family of origin, and career self-efficacy : a comparative study of university students.
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Date
1996
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Abstract
The literature claims that, whilst hindering normal narcissistic development, a family
of origin characterised by high levels of cohesion and low levels of adaptability,
promotes individual proficiency in interpersonal skills. Coupled with unconscious
motivations for interpersonal need gratification, a subsequent predisposition towards
a career choice in psychotherapy is likely. This study set out to test these
assumptions by comparing family of origin types, levels of narcissism and career
self-efficacy in postgraduate Masters psychology students, postgraduate final year
law students and final year electronic engineering students currently enroled in
University of Natal training programmes (N=85). Informed by the literature, this
study hypothesised that trainee psychotherapists would report more extreme family
of origin types, predict career self-efficacy in the direction of social occupations and
display higher levels of narcissism than students in other fields of specialisation.
The Narcissistic Personality Inventory (Raskin & Terry, 1988), FACES III of the
Circumplex Model (Olson, McCubbin, Barnes, Larsen, Muxen & Wilson, 1985) and
the Career Self-Efficacy Scale (Matsui & Tsukamoto, 1991) were utilised to assess
the dimensions of narcissism, family of origin and career self-efficacy respectively.
This study was unable to find significant connections between family of origin,
narcissism and career self-efficacy, thereby failing to provide empirical support for
the literature's claims. Results have been discussed in terms of theoretical and
practical implications and attempts have been made to account for the general lack
of significant findings. Limitations of this study's research design and
recommendations for future research in this area have been offered.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1996.
Keywords
Narcissism., Psychotherapists--Mental health., Personality and occupation., Psychotherapy--Vocational guidance., Students--Psychology., Students--Vocational guidance., Psychotherapists--Family relationships., Students--Family relationships., Theses--Psychology.