Narcissism is defined as an egotistic admiration of one’s self-image and the belief that one is more entitled and deserving than others. Narcissistic behavior is rooted in an unwavering belief in one’s own correctness, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. As a result, narcissists often refuse to admit their mistakes, hindering their ability to learn and grow.
Narcissistic
The process of reflecting on past actions to evaluate alternative outcomes is called counterfactual thinking. Specifically, “should counterfactual thinking” — thoughts like “I should have done something differently” — is crucial for growth, yet narcissists often avoid it.
What Is Counterfactual Thinking?
Counterfactual thinking involves imagining different scenarios and outcomes that could have occurred in past events. It allows individuals to learn from their experiences by considering what they could have done differently.
For example, a project manager reflecting on a delayed project might realize that earlier stakeholder communication could have prevented issues. In contrast, narcissists often engage in self-serving bias, a psychological tendency to take credit for successes while blaming external factors for failures.
“But narcissists do this way more because they think they’re better than others,” said Dr. Howes. “They don’t take advice from other people; they don’t trust others’ opinions.
Research Examines Narcissistic Behavior
Research by Howes et al., published in the Journal of Management, explored how narcissists process feedback and learning. The study included four experiments with a total of 727 participants, including a group in Chile, highlighting the findings’ cross-cultural relevance.
Initially, participants completed a narcissism ranking test by choosing between statements like “I think I am a special person” and “I am no better or worse than most people.” They then engaged in decision-making tasks such as selecting job candidates and evaluating their performance. Researchers assessed how much participants engaged in counterfactual thinking, specifically should counterfactual thinking, after receiving outcome feedback.
Each study also examined the role of hindsight bias—the tendency to perceive events as more predictable after they have occurred. According to Howes and colleagues, hindsight bias can act as a cognitive distortion and sometimes as a psychological defense mechanism when outcomes do not meet expectations.
A notable example is when former U.S. President Donald Trump stated in 2017, “No one knew health care could be so complicated,” after encountering difficulties reforming the Affordable Care Act.
How Narcissism Impairs Learning
The researchers found that narcissists strongly adhered to the self-serving bias. When their predictions were correct, narcissists attributed their success to personal insight, claiming they “knew it all along.” When they were wrong, they insisted that “nobody could have guessed” the outcome.
As a result, narcissists often fail to adjust their future behavior, believing that their actions require no improvement, even when faced with clear evidence of error.
“They’re falling prey to the hindsight bias, and they’re not learning from it when they make mistakes. And when they get things right, they’re still not learning,” Howes explained.
In organizational settings, narcissists may climb the leadership ladder by taking credit for team successes while avoiding responsibility for failures.
Although narcissistic leadership behaviors are supported by broader research, the primary focus of the Howes et al. study was on individual cognitive processes, specifically how narcissists process feedback and learn from outcomes.
However, over time, this behavior can erode employee morale and hinder organizational growth due to a lack of accountability and continuous improvement.
How to Overcome the Self-Serving Bias
How can individuals and organizations counteract the self-serving bias?
It begins with deliberately practicing Should Counterfactual Thinking, regardless of whether the outcome was positive or negative. Key strategies include:
- Reflect on decision processes, not just outcomes.
- Ask “What should have gone better?” even after successes.
- Seek honest feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors.
- Implement advisory panels to review major decisions made by leaders, especially those in influential roles.
By encouraging reflection and promoting a culture of learning from both successes and failures, organizations can safeguard themselves against the negative impacts of narcissistic leadership.
Related Reading:
The Dark Factor of Personality: A Test That Can Tell If You Are in a Relationship with a Narcissist
Narcissistic Behavior Is Just a Self-Defense Mechanism to Mask Low Self-Esteem
The Hidden Dangers of Positive Thinking: Why Optimism Alone May Undermine Your Success
FAQs: Narcissism, Hindsight Bias, and Learning
What is hindsight bias?
Hindsight bias is the tendency to believe, after an event happens, that we “knew it all along,” even if we didn’t predict it.
How does narcissism affect hindsight bias?
Narcissists tend to show stronger hindsight bias. They are more likely to think they were right all along, even if they were wrong.
Why do narcissists struggle with learning from mistakes?
Because they overestimate their past knowledge, narcissists often miss important lessons and don’t adjust their behavior after failures.
What is “should counterfactual thinking”?
It’s when people reflect by thinking, “I should have done something different” after an event.
How does “should counterfactual thinking” play a role?
This type of thinking can either increase or decrease hindsight bias, depending on how accurate a person’s original prediction was.
What did the study find about narcissists and counterfactual thinking?
Narcissists use less “should” thinking after making accurate predictions but use it more when their predictions are wrong.
Does hindsight bias always hurt learning?
Not always. Sometimes a little hindsight bias helps people move past failure, but too much can block real learning.
How many studies were included in the research?
Four studies with a combined total of 727 participants.
What is the main takeaway?
Narcissists are less likely to learn from experience because their biased view of past events shields them from self-improvement.
Bottom Line
The research makes it clear that narcissism blocks personal growth, but it also leaves open an important question: Can self-awareness be taught? While the study focused on how narcissists resist learning, it hints at a possibility—if people are guided to reflect without ego, even strong biases might soften over time. Building cultures that reward honest self-review could be a powerful antidote, not just for narcissists, but for all of us.
References
Howes, S. S., Kausel, E. E., Jackson, A. T., & Reb, J. (2020). When and why narcissists exhibit greater hindsight bias and less perceived learning. Journal of Management, 46(8), 1498–1528. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206320929421
