Status Pursuit in Narcissism (SPIN)

Status pursuit in narcissism (SPIN) or narcissistic status pursuit, conceived by developmental psychologist Stathis Grapsas, defines grandiose narcissists’ overriding motivation to seek social status, often at the cost of all other goals. The SPIN model describes how narcissists approach social situations to find desired status and then figure out how to achieve it. At its core is their perspective of social hierarchy (I’m superior, you’re inferior), along with feeling entitled and needing attention and validation. Individual differences in pursuing status pertain to individual differences in the narcissists themselves. It can show up as glorifying oneself (self-promotion, seeking admiration, superiority) or putting others down (other-derogation or devaluing them, striving for dominance and supremacy). According to the SPIN model, they pursue status more strongly (active drive to achieve social status over other goals and needs), more narrowly (strong motive in contrast to weak motive for affiliation), or more rigidly (boasting/lying in inappropriate contexts to get ahead) than nonnarcissists. Researchers see grandiose narcissism as “manifested in a behavioral profile of pervasive status pursuit.” The four main SPIN strategies are:

• Situation selection,opting for the situation most likely to increase status.
• Vigilance (attention), being alert to social cues that define oneself in comparison to others.
• Appraisal,assessing social cues as they relate to status.
• Response execution,executing self-promotion or other-derogation to achieve status