The Mediational Role of Mentalization in Relationships between Reinforcement Sensitivity and Narcissistic Personality

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between reinforcement sensitivity and narcissistic personality with the mediating role of mentalization. This research was one of the descriptive-correlational designs. The statistical population of the study included all students of Tabriz Azad University in the second semester of the 98-99 academic year; The research sample was estimated using Morgan sampling table, 387 people who were selected as a multi-stage cluster. Research tools included Carver White Brain-Behavioral Systems Questionnaire, Mentalization Questionnaire, and Pathological Narcissism Questionnaire (PNI). Pearson correlation statistical method and path analysis through SPSS 24 and LISREL software version 8.80 were used.The results showed the direct effect of behavioral activation system (β = 0.32) and behavioral inhibition system (β = -0.23) with narcissism, behavioral activation system (β = -0.42) and behavioral inhibition system (β = 0.37) Were meaningful with mentalization. The direct effect of mentalization with narcissism (β = -0.30) was significant. Also, the indirect effect of the behavioral activation system with narcissism (through mentalization) was 0.12 and the indirect effect of the behavioral inhibition system with narcissism (through mentalization) was 0.11, which was significant at the level of 0.05.Therefore, it can be concluded that the behavioral activator system and the behavioral inhibition system can directly and indirectly predict narcissism. Also, the effect of the whole behavioral activator system and behavioral inhibition system on narcissism was significant. Therefore, it can be said that mentalization as a mediating variable has an important role in the relationship between brain-behavioral systems and narcissism