Associations between implicit antagonistic narcissism and forgiveness: Insights from a clinical sample

BACKGROUND: Forgiveness supports interpersonal repair and psychological well-being but relies on capacities that may be compromised in narcissistic individuals. Contemporary models allow for a more nuanced differentiation of narcissistic facets, with increasing evidence linking antagonistic narcissism to reduced forgiveness. As dual-process models propose both reflective and automatic levels of information processing, this study integrated direct (self-report) and indirect (Implicit Association Test) measures to examine associations between antagonistic narcissism and forgiveness in a clinical sample. METHODS: The study included 102 female patients recruited from a psychosomatic clinic. Antagonistic narcissism and forgiveness were assessed using self-report questionnaires and Implicit Association Tests. Associations were examined using Spearman correlations and hierarchical regression analyses testing the incremental validity of implicit antagonistic narcissism beyond explicit measures. RESULTS: Implicit antagonistic narcissism (AN-IAT) was significantly associated with both implicit and explicit forgiveness indicators, showing lower implicit forgiveness and reduced benevolence alongside higher avoidance. In hierarchical regressions, the AN-IAT explained unique variance in implicit, state, and dispositional forgiveness beyond explicit antagonistic narcissism, demonstrating incremental validity. Explicit antagonistic narcissism showed limited associations, relating to higher revenge motivation and lower dispositional forgiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Implicit antagonistic narcissism was robustly associated with lower forgiveness across state, and trait levels. These findings highlight the value of integrating indirect and direct approaches to capture distinct levels of narcissistic functioning and underscore the clinical importance of addressing implicit relational schemas in individuals with pronounced antagonistic traits.