Defensive levels in narcissistic profiles: Associations with epistemic trust, mistrust, and credulity in emerging adulthood

Emerging adulthood represents a critical period for the development of grandiose and vulnerable pathological narcissism. These narcissistic dimensions, while distinct, frequently oscillate, suggesting a dimensional—rather than categorical—presentation. Research has shown that defenses and epistemic stances (i.e., trust, mistrust, and credulity) may contribute to the development of maladaptive personality patterns. However, the relationship of these variables to pathological narcissism during emerging adulthood is underexplored. The present study used latent profile analysis to identify distinct narcissistic profiles associated with different defensive levels in a community sample of 1,565 cisgender emerging adults (71.25% assigned female at birth; Mage = 24.52, SD = 2.81). Also, it analyzed the associations between the narcissistic profiles identified and epistemic stances. Five narcissistic profiles were identified: Adaptive, Confident, Hiding, Submissive, and High-Risk. These profiles were associated with particular defensive levels and varying epistemic stances, with the Adaptive and Confident profiles showing higher epistemic trust, while the Submissive and High-Risk profiles showing greater epistemic mistrust. These results highlight the importance of assessing emerging adults’ narcissistic profiles considering their defensive levels and epistemic stances.