Pathological narcissism, psychic pain and sadistic tendencies: the mediating effect of ego strength.

This study is purposed to investigate the effects of pathological narcissism and psychic pain on the prediction of sadistic tendencies through the mediating role of ego strength using structural equation modeling (SEM) in perpetrators of domestic violence. A clinical sample was comprised of 250 perpetrators of domestic violence who were selected using the purposive sampling procedure in a descriptive study. The data were collected using the Comprehensive Assessment of Sadistic Tendencies Scale (CAST-12), Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI), Orbach and Mikulincer Psychic Pain Scale (OMMP), and Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strengths (PIES). The results show that pathological narcissism and psychic pain have significant positive direct effects on sadistic tendencies. In contrast, ego strength has a significant negative direct influence on sadistic tendencies. Also, pathological narcissism and psychic pain have significantly indirect effects on sadistic tendencies through the mediating role of ego strength. Overall, pathological narcissism, psychic pain, and ego strength explain 86.6% of sadistic tendencies. The results indicate a fitted SEM for the direct and indirect effects of pathological narcissism and psychic pain on sadistic tendencies concerning the mediating role of ego strength. These findings have implications for psychotherapeutic interventions and community-based programs for perpetrators of domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]