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Grandiose Fantasies and Low Self-Esteem: An Experimental Study

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Abstract

Grandiose states of mind could be an ineffective way to cope with low self-esteem. In fact, it is possible that grandiose fantasies would tend to induce doubts about personal worth and decrease self-esteem. This study explored whether grandiose fantasies help to cope with low self-esteem. The self-reported occurrence and unpleasantness of intrusive thoughts regarding the sense of exclusion, humiliation, and low self-esteem in non-clinical individuals were assessed during self-induced grandiose fantasies and self-induced relaxation. The occurrence and unpleasantness of low self-esteem intrusions were significantly higher during grandiose fantasies, suggesting that grandiose fantasy is ineffective at combating low self-esteem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Psicoterapia cognitiva e ricerca” Cognitive psychotherapy school and research center, Milano, Italy

    Giovanni Maria Ruggiero

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Umane per la Formazione “R. Massa”, Università Milano-Bicocca, P.zza dell’Ateneo Nuovo 1, Milan, Italy

    Guido Veronese & Marco Castiglioni

  3. “Studi Cognitivi” Cognitive psychotherapy school and research center, Milano, Italy

    Sandra Sassaroli

Authors
  1. Giovanni Maria Ruggiero
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  2. Guido Veronese
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  3. Marco Castiglioni
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  4. Sandra Sassaroli
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Correspondence to Guido Veronese.

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Ruggiero, G.M., Veronese, G., Castiglioni, M. et al. Grandiose Fantasies and Low Self-Esteem: An Experimental Study. Psychol Stud 56, 368–372 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-011-0095-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-011-0095-9

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