Evaluating the psychometric properties of the hypersensitive narcissism scale: Implications for the distinction of covert and overt narcissism

Recent research has suggested that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) may have mistakenly focused on the overt qualities of the narcissistic personality disorder (e.g. demand for admiration) while neglecting the disorder’s more covert features (Russ, Shedler, Bradley, & Westen, 2008). An investigation into the psychometric properties of a measure of this more covert form of narcissism, Hendin and Cheek’s (1997) Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS), represents the focus of the present study. A total of 298 participants completed the measure, as well as measures assessing related constructs. The HSNS achieved high levels of reliability and demonstrated notable discriminant validity, producing a pattern of correlations highly congruent with theorized relationships. However, factor analyses revealed that the measure may not be assessing a unitary construct, and its relationship to the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI; Raskin & Hall, 1979), a measure of overt narcissism, was somewhat unclear. It is concluded that the HSNS appears to assess covert narcissism, though its noted shortcomings suggests that a revision of the HSNS may be in order to improve its psychometric properties and clinical utility

An Analysis Of Self: The Development And Assessment Of A Measure Of Selfobject Needs

The theory of self psychology as advanced by Heinz Kohut (1971, 1977, 1984) emphasized the importance of early developmental experiences, most centrally, the empathic attunement of caregivers as key nutrients for fostering the capacity for healthy self-regulation and interpersonal relations. Kohut elaborated three critical selfobject needs (i.e., idealizing, mirroring, and twinship) that were ideally satiated by these early experiences, deeming the fulfillment of these needs as essential for developing a healthy sense of self, capable of sustaining ambitions, self-soothing, and caring for others and oneself. In the case of psychopathology, these needs were theorized to have gone unmet, leaving the individual with deficits in their ability to regulate self-esteem, and thereby rendering them vulnerable to mood and behavioral dysregulation, as well as difficulty sustaining satisfying intimate relations, especially in the face of life\u27s stressors. Although Kohut\u27s theory has been embraced as quite useful by many mental health professionals, particularly those with a psychodynamic affiliation, there has been relatively scant empirical research examining its underlying hypotheses. It is the present author\u27s assertion that a primary reason for the scarcity of empirical attention devoted to Kohut\u27s theory has been due to challenges operationalizing his concepts, which has led to a lack of adequate measures of his key constructs, especially his idea of the selfobject needs. To address these shortcomings, the present research sought to develop a self-report measure capable of assessing the selfobject needs proposed by Kohut. The proposed strategy was designed to yield a measure that could reliably and validly assess individual differences in the selfobject needs of idealizing, mirroring, and twinship. Experts in the field of self psychology were recruited to assist in the development of the present measure. Across two studies involving 738 and 712 respondents, participants completed an online survey hosted by the university\u27s secure research portal. The first study involved a survey including only the present measure, while the second study\u27s survey consisted of the present measure and other measures of interest. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses offered strong evidence in support of the proposed three-factor structure of the measure. Cluster analysis and examination of the correlational results offered additional support for the present measure\u27s validity, both in regards to discriminant and convergent validity. The theoretical implications of these findings are explored

Refinement and Preliminary Testing of an Imagery-Based Program to Improve Coping and Performance and Prevent Trauma among Urban Police Officers

Police officers are regularly exposed to traumatic critical incidents. The substantial mental, behavioral, and social costs of police trauma indicate a substantial need for prevention. We have refined and enhanced a previously tested Swedish program to the harsh conditions of U.S. inner cities. The program was designed to strengthen resilience during stressful encounters and teach methods of coping after exposure, thereby preventing the emergence of maladaptive symptoms and behaviors with adverse effects on professionalism. In an uncontrolled demonstration project, junior officers were trained by senior officers to engage in imaginal rehearsal of specific dangerous situations while incorporating optimal police tactics and healthy emotional reactions. A class of 32 officers in the police academy engaged in the program, and they and the trainers reported high satisfaction with it. After their first year of field work, 22 officers were reassessed. Compared to pre-training, these officers showed significant increases in the use of positive reframing and humor and significant reductions in anxiety and alcohol use over the year. Trauma symptoms did not increase. These results offer preliminary evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of this trauma prevention program for new police officers

Differential Effects of Physiological Arousal Following Acute Stress on Police Officer Performance in a Simulated Critical Incident

Background: Police officer response in a critical incident is often a life-or-death scenario for the officer, the suspect, and the public. Efficient and accurate decisions are necessary to ensure the safety of all involved. Under these conditions, it is important to understand the effects of physiological arousal in response to acute stress on police officer performance in critical and dangerous incidents. Prior research suggests that physiological arousal following a stressor differentially affects police performance – communication may be impaired, whereas well-rehearsed, tactical behaviors may be resilient.Objectives: In this study, we examine the differential effects of physiological arousal across three police skill domains: verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and tactical skill.Methods: A sample of Swedish police cadets (N = 17) participated in a critical incident simulation, which was a reenactment of a real-life incident that had resulted in a police officer death; the simulation included multiple calls, dynamic environments, and surprise threats. An expert rater evaluated the cadets across multiple domains of skill, and physiological arousal was monitored by continuous heart rate monitoring and measures of circulating cortisol and antithrombin taken before and after the incident simulation.Results: The simulation increased police officer arousal, as reflected in elevated heart rate, but this alone did not predict differences in performance. Greater increase in antithrombin was associated with better general performance, but a specific deficit in verbal communication as compared to tactical performance and nonverbal communication. Change in cortisol was unrelated to the skill assessments.Conclusions: Police officer performance during a critical incident simulation is affected by physiological arousal. The findings are discussed with implications for police officer decision-making and real-world performance

Interventions, training, and technologies for improved police well-being and performance

Interventions, Training, and Technologies for Improved Police Well-Being and Performance is a critical publication that explores new training methods and technologies. The future of policing is poised to change, making the need for developments in evidence-based practices more important than ever before. New technology and techniques for improving performance and the perception of the police force can guide the policies and practices of law enforcement, trainers and academies, government officials, policymakers, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, to a more effective implementation of training and procedures. Including the perspective of police officers within the publication, this text offers insight into an often neglected viewpoint when creating training and policies

Anticoagulants and the hemostatic system: A primer for occupational stress researchers

Anticoagulation, the body’s mechanism to prevent blood clotting, is an internal biomarker of an individual’s response to stress. Research has indicated that understanding the causes, processes, and consequences of anticoagulation can provide important insight into the experience of individuals facing emotional and occupational strain. Unfortunately, despite their importance, the mechanisms and implications of anticoagulation are unfamiliar to many researchers and practitioners working with trauma-exposed professionals. This paper provides an accessible primer on the topic of anticoagulation, including an overview of the biological process, the research connecting these processes with emotional and occupational functioning, as well as some potential methods for assessment

Differential effects of physiological arousal following acute stress on police officer performance in a simulated critical incident

Background: Police officer response in a critical incident is often a life-or-death scenario for the officer, the suspect, and the public. Efficient and accurate decisions are necessary to ensure the safety of all involved. Under these conditions, it is important to understand the effects of physiological arousal in response to acute stress on police officer performance in critical and dangerous incidents. Prior research suggests that physiological arousal following a stressor differentially affects police performance - communication may be impaired, whereas well-rehearsed, tactical behaviors may be resilient. Objectives: In this study, we examine the differential effects of physiological arousal across three police skill domains: verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and tactical skill. Methods: A sample of Swedish police cadets (N = 17) participated in a critical incident simulation, which was a reenactment of a real-life incident that had resulted in a police officer death; the simulation included multiple calls, dynamic environments, and surprise threats. An expert rater evaluated the cadets across multiple domains of skill, and physiological arousal was monitored by continuous heart rate monitoring and measures of circulating cortisol and antithrombin taken before and after the incident simulation. Results: The simulation increased police officer arousal, as reflected in elevated heart rate, but this alone did not predict differences in performance. Greater increase in antithrombin was associated with better general performance, but a specific deficit in verbal communication as compared to tactical performance and nonverbal communication. Change in cortisol was unrelated to the skill assessments. Conclusions: Police officer performance during a critical incident simulation is affected by physiological arousal. The findings are discussed with implications for police officer decision-making and real-world performance