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<p>This study aimed to examine, within a psychodynamic framework, the predictive effects of pathological narcissism on individuals’ perceptions of divine authority and their levels of death anxiety. Grounded in object relations theory, self psychology, and contemporary psychoanalytic approaches, the study conceptualizes the representation of God as an internalized representation rooted in early caregiver relationships and frames death anxiety as a core existential threat to ego integrity. The research adopted a cross-sectional, correlational design. The sample consisted of 438 adults aged 18–59 living in Istanbul. Data were collected using the God Perception Scale, the Thorson–Powell Death Anxiety Scale, and the Pathological Narcissism Inventory. After confirming normal distribution, analyses were conducted using Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, independent samples <i>t</i>-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The findings showed that both dimensions of pathological narcissism—vulnerability and grandiosity—were negatively associated with positive God representation and positively associated with negative God representation. Narcissistic vulnerability emerged as the strongest predictor of negative God representation, while positive God representation was modestly but significantly predicted in a negative direction by both dimensions. Both narcissistic vulnerability and grandiosity significantly predicted death anxiety, with grandiosity emerging as the stronger predictor. Women reported higher positive God perceptions, whereas men scored higher on negative God perceptions, pathological narcissism, and death anxiety; higher education levels were associated with more positive God perceptions and lower narcissism and death anxiety. Overall, the results suggest that pathological narcissism is significantly associated with the internal God representation and intensifies responses to existential threat. The study underscores the importance of considering God representation as an internal object within clinical formulations of narcissistic pathology and death anxiety.</p>

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Pathological Narcissism and the Internal God Representation: A Psychodynamic Analysis of Death Anxiety

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月22日

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  • Nurhan Naz

摘要

This study aimed to examine, within a psychodynamic framework, the predictive effects of pathological narcissism on individuals’ perceptions of divine authority and their levels of death anxiety. Grounded in object relations theory, self psychology, and contemporary psychoanalytic approaches, the study conceptualizes the representation of God as an internalized representation rooted in early caregiver relationships and frames death anxiety as a core existential threat to ego integrity. The research adopted a cross-sectional, correlational design. The sample consisted of 438 adults aged 18–59 living in Istanbul. Data were collected using the God Perception Scale, the Thorson–Powell Death Anxiety Scale, and the Pathological Narcissism Inventory. After confirming normal distribution, analyses were conducted using Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, independent samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The findings showed that both dimensions of pathological narcissism—vulnerability and grandiosity—were negatively associated with positive God representation and positively associated with negative God representation. Narcissistic vulnerability emerged as the strongest predictor of negative God representation, while positive God representation was modestly but significantly predicted in a negative direction by both dimensions. Both narcissistic vulnerability and grandiosity significantly predicted death anxiety, with grandiosity emerging as the stronger predictor. Women reported higher positive God perceptions, whereas men scored higher on negative God perceptions, pathological narcissism, and death anxiety; higher education levels were associated with more positive God perceptions and lower narcissism and death anxiety. Overall, the results suggest that pathological narcissism is significantly associated with the internal God representation and intensifies responses to existential threat. The study underscores the importance of considering God representation as an internal object within clinical formulations of narcissistic pathology and death anxiety.