Why Narcissists Often Feel Unfairly Treated at Work (Even When They’re Not)
Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
A new study finds that narcissists are more likely to feel underappreciated and unfairly treated—because they overestimate their own contributions. Let’s explore how entitlement skews their perception of equity.
Everyone wants to feel valued at work.
But some people consistently believe they’re giving more than they’re getting—even when their output doesn’t match the self-praise.
According to a new study in the International Journal of Organizational Analysis, people with pronounced narcissistic traits often feel shortchanged in professional settings—not because they are, but because they overestimate their contributions.
Researchers Abdelbaset Queiri and Hussain Alhejji (2025) surveyed 150 employees across Oman’s health, education, IT, retail, and finance sectors. Their findings point to a key insight:
Narcissists feel cheated because they think they deserve more than everyone else.
What the Study Actually Found
Participants completed validated scales measuring:
Narcissism (e.g., “I like to be the center of attention”)
Entitlement (e.g., “Great things should come to me”)
Perceived inequity (e.g., “I exert myself too much considering what I get back in return”)
As expected, those with higher narcissistic traits reported greater perceived unfairness at work. But here’s the twist: this wasn’t just about self-regard—it was also about entitlement.
To the narcissist, equal treatment may feel like a slight.
Statistical analysis confirmed that a sense of entitlement partially mediated the relationship between narcissism and perceived inequity. That is, narcissists weren’t just proud—they felt owed more. And when reality failed to deliver the special treatment they expected, they interpreted it as injustice.
How This Shows Up at Work
Imagine a colleague who insists their input is always critical, demands recognition, and is easily offended by standard feedback. What’s happening beneath the surface might not be simple arrogance—it could be a distorted sense of fairness.
This skewed perception can lead to:
Chronic Dissatisfaction despite neutral or even generous treatment
Poor Conflict Resolution (because others don’t "see their value")
Workplace Turnover or Team Friction, especially in collaborative settings
As the study authors explain, narcissists are not merely vain—they miscalculate the balance sheet of give-and-take.
A Rare Look Outside the Western Lens
This research stands out not only for its findings but for its non-Western sample. The study focused on working adults in Muscat and Salalah, Oman, expanding the typically Western-centric literature on narcissism.
While the results align with prior research from North America and Europe, they also highlight that cognitive distortions around entitlement and fairness are not culturally isolated. That said, because the study used a cross-sectional design, it can’t prove causation—only correlation.
So, Is the Narcissist Always Wrong?
Not necessarily. Sometimes, systems really are inequitable. But this study reminds us to ask an uncomfortable question:
When someone consistently perceives unfairness, is the system broken—or is their internal scoreboard rigged?
This doesn’t mean ignoring real grievances. It means understanding how personality traits like narcissism can color a person’s experience of fairness, especially in structured settings like the workplace.
Final Thought: How Much Is Enough?
The workplace is full of subjective impressions: Who’s doing the heavy lifting? Who deserves the raise? Who’s being overlooked? For people high in narcissism, those questions aren’t just about policy—they’re personal.
By overestimating their own contributions and expecting more than others, narcissists may live in a constant state of perceived injustice.
And that may be why, no matter how much they receive, it never quite feels like enough.
Be Well, stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Queiri, A., & Alhejji, H. (2025). Examining the link between narcissism and perceived inequity: The mediating role of sense of entitlement. International Journal of Organizational Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-06-2024-401
Drop me a line for my free guide: "Recognizing Entitlement in Professional Settings: A Reflection Worksheet for Teams and Leaders"
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