Unravel the enigma of narcissism: from psychology to society. Explore the factors influencing narcissistic behaviours and personalities. With Q&A with Dr Ava Green.

Narcissism is everywhere and, according to some research, on the rise. We often associate the term narcissism with negative connotations – arrogance, egotism, vanity. While these aspects are associated with narcissistic personality types, narcissism actually is a much broader concept. In fact, we all exhibit narcissistic features to a certain degree. In this talk, you will dive into the complex multi-faceted construct of narcissism and its features, how it originates, and how it plays out in intimate relationships. You will also learn about how narcissism can be manifested differently in men and women. Lastly, you will learn about specific risk factors that can lead to abusive behaviour in narcissistic individuals and how these differ among males and females.

Dr Ava Green is a Chartered Psychologist, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, and the Programme Lead of the BSc Psychology with Criminology degree at City University of London. Ava’s research focus is on female narcissism in relation to criminal behaviour, clinical assessment, and aetiological factors. Her work has been published in flagship journals, including Personality and Individual Differences (2020) and Frontiers in Psychology (2022), and has gained considerable media coverage in both television (BBC) and news outlets (e.g., The Telegraph and The Conversation). Ava has given several talks for both academic and public audiences on female narcissism, and currently sits on the Forensic Network Research Special Interest Group. She is a member of several professional networks, including the Forensic Network, Violence and Society Centre, and Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network.