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A 2026 study shows the honeymoon phase of relationships involving narcissists can last longer than expected.

Narcissistic rivalry is related to lower relationship satisfaction, but the decline is often not linear.

Narcissistic admiration rarely compensates for the long-term eventual toll of narcissistic rivalry.

A large body of research shows that narcissists make poor romantic partners. They are less committed, more likely to play manipulative games, and blame others when things go wrong. Despite that, narcissists are often attractive and charming initially. This has led researchers to posit that relationships with narcissists may be especially appealing early on, only to have a sharp decline in satisfaction. Surprisingly, there hasn't been much research examining the relationship trajectory of those partnered with narcissists. In a study that I just published in Journal of Personality, along with William Chopik, we examined how narcissism might affect changes in relationship satisfaction over a six-year period.

In the study, we analyzed data from more than 5,000 couples who participated in the German Family Panel Study. The study provided up to six years of survey data from the participants and their........

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