Narcissistic Users in Virtual Space: The Discriminational Role of Brain – Behavioral Systems and Positive and Negative Affect

The aim of this study was to determine the discriminational role of brain – behavioral systems and positive and negative affect in discrimination of narcissistic and normal users in virtual space. The present study had a two-group discriminant function design. The research population was consisted of all users of active social networking in virtual space, aged between 18 to 30 years and living in Tehran. 195 participants selected by snowball sampling method in a telegram program environment. Data was collected with the Positive and Negative Experience scale, Narcissistic Personality scale, and Behavioral Inhibition/ Activation Systems Scale. The results of discriminantion analysis showed that the activation system had the strongest relationship with this function, and could distinct narcissistic group from normal. But, the discrimination power of four other variables (including negative affect, inhibition systems, positive affect and affect balance) were weaker. So, in combination with other characteristics of narcissistic individuals, the assessment of activity level of activation system can also be used to discriminate narcissistic individuals from normal.